‘Justice has to be done for her’

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This article was published 15/04/2023 (876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The family, loved ones and supporters of an Indigenous woman who was found slain in a rural area in southern Manitoba last summer marched through Winnipeg’s downtown in her memory Saturday evening, calling for justice.

Mackaylah Gerard-Roussin, 20, was found on a remote ATV trail in southern Manitoba on Aug. 27 last year.

RCMP arrested Josh Benoit, 20, of Winnipeg, the following day. He was charged with first-degree murder — a charge that indicates police and the Crown’s office think the crime was premeditated — and indecent interference with human remains the next day.

On Saturday, more than 100 people gathered on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building, as traditional drummers and singers sang for Gerard-Roussin, while supporters and family members held signs or wore shirts emblazoned with her photograph and name, while others had signs that read “no more stolen sisters.”

Her grandmother, Irene Roussin, said her granddaughter’s promising life was cut too short for no reason.

“She was a beautiful little lady. She had dreams,” Roussin said. “She had her dreams and she had her goals.”

Gerard-Roussin had been planning to study to become a child psychologist, and had worked to help inner-city children at Rossbrook House, a drop-in centre at Ross Avenue and Sherbrook Street.

“Mackaylah was such a loving, caring person. She’d give her heart to anybody,” said her grandmother.

“Her smile, her laugh, everything — she was such a bundle of joy.”

She had two sisters and two brothers, said Roussin, and she was particularly close with her sisters, who have been “lost without her.”

Roussin said she’s upset with violence against innocent people.

“What gives you the right — you have no right to hurt anybody,” Roussin said.

“There’s so much hatred.”

She and the victim’s great aunt, Crystal Zastre, said the family wants to see justice in Gerard-Roussin’s death.

“I want it over and done with,” Roussin said of the court case.

“I want justice done, justice has to be done for her.”

Zastre said the family are planning another march and gathering in August, on the anniversary of Gerard-Roussin’s death, in Steinbach and the rural area where she was found.

Family members of the victim led the procession down Broadway toward Main Street, eventually looping back to the legislative grounds, where the gathering was scheduled to continue until about 8 p.m.

Amanda Mousseau, an aunt of Gerard-Roussin, said the gathering and walk were also meant for other missing and murdered Indigenous women, as well as her niece.

“This is to remember, and to bring justice for what happened to her,” she said.

“To remember: No more stolen sisters… that’s what we were here for, to make awareness.”

She said the family have tried to stay strong amid their grief, but it’s been a difficult time.

“It’s not something you get over,” said Mousseau. “We’re are still hurting… it hit our family hard, it’s been a tragedy ever since.”

Steinbach RCMP had gotten a call “indicating that a homicide had occurred” on Aug. 26, 2022, and headed to a home on Creekside Drive in the city about 60 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, Mounties said at the time.

Gerard-Roussin had last been heard from on Aug. 25 and had not shown up for work, family said.

Officers reported that a suspect had already left the home, with their investigation suggesting he had the victim’s body in his vehicle, police said. Mounties from Steinbach and other nearby RCMP detachments began to search, while Winnipeg police checked the suspect’s residence in the city.

Mounties found the suspect’s vehicle in La Broquerie and pulled it over on Highway 52, west of the town .

RCMP arrested the suspect, but the vehicle caught fire in a suspected arson. The local fire department doused the flames and officers did not find the victim’s body in the vehicle.

Investigators then received information directing them to the ATV trail south of Woodridge, where the officers found the victim.

RCMP have said the victim and accused knew each other, but did not specify how, but a classmate had said the two had gone to the same Winnipeg high school.

Accused Benoit is next due in court in Steinbach on April 20, court records show. The charges against him have not been proven and trial dates do not appear to have been set.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca