Man accused of killing five family members fires lawyers, judge cancels pre-trial hearing

THE man accused of slaying five of his family members in a brutal case of domestic violence has parted ways with his lawyers just two weeks before a scheduled pre-trial hearing meant to determine the admissibility of certain evidence ahead of his trial this spring.

On Tuesday, Court of King’s Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg allowed Ryan Manoakeesick’s defence lawyers, Evan Roitenberg and Laura Robinson, to withdraw as his counsel over unspecified disagreements.

Greenberg cancelled the pre-trial hearing that had been scheduled for Feb. 2, but at this point, Manoakeesick is still set to stand trial in April on five counts of first-degree murder.

Roitenberg told Greenberg that Manoakeesick, who was 29 when he was charged in February 2024, had told them he no longer wanted them to act as his lawyers.

Manoakeesick initially seemed to backtrack on that decision in court, as he had not yet found anyone to represent him, but after a confidential discussion between the two lawyers and the accused killer, Roitenberg again told court that he and Robinson wanted to withdraw as his counsel.

“Unfortunately, we cannot move forward, having been told that we’ve been discharged and now with the discussions we’ve just had, there seems to be a fundamental disconnect as between counsel and Mr. Manoakeesick that we should not continue to act,” said Roitenberg.

“We’ve advised Mr. Manoakeesick that we are prepared to assist him in finding new counsel, he’s told us that he wants to go down a particular avenue, with or without our assistance. If he changes his mind, we are willing to assist him, but we should not be continuing as counsel.”

There had been a voir dire hearing — a type of pre-trial hearing to determine legal questions on what evidence will be allowed at trial and whether certain witnesses should be called — scheduled for Feb. 2, ahead of scheduled April trial dates.

Greenberg cancelled that pre-trial hearing, but expressed concern about whether Manoakeesick will be able to find lawyers to represent him ahead of his trial.

She floated the idea of appointing Roitenberg as an amicus curiae — a friend of the court— to help guide the case going forward, but he declined.

“There’s nothing else that I can do at this point but to allow you to withdraw as counsel,” said Greenberg. “The question is where it goes from here.”

Greenberg scheduled another court appearance for Manoakeesick on Feb. 2. She said if he does not have a lawyer representing him by that date, she intends to call in Legal Aid to find a lawyer to appear as a friend of the court.

She also made it clear to Manoakeesick, that if the trial does not proceed in April as a result of his decisions, he may not get new trial dates until next year.

Manoakeesick was charged following the Feb. 11, 2024 slayings of his common-law partner, 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater, their three children — two-month old Isabella, four-year-old Jayven and six-year-old Bethany — and Clearwater’s 17-year-old cousin Myah-Lee Gratton.

All five victims and Manoakeesick lived together in Carman, about 75 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

Clearwater’s death was initially reported as a hit-and-run incident at about 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 11. Her body was found in a ditch next to Highway 3, about seven kilometres south of Carman.

The three children were found dead near a burning vehicle on Provincial Road 248, about 70 kilometres north of Carman, at about 10 a.m. Manoakeesick was arrested near the vehicle, which RCMP said he had pulled his children from before being arrested.

Gratton’s body was found inside the family home. Prior to her death, she left voicemail messages with her Child and Family Services worker, pleading to be moved out of the home and told friends Manoakeesick was prone to violent outbursts, her mother previously said.

Manoakeesick was declared fit to stand trial in March 2024, after his then-lawyers sought an assessment to determine whether he was mentally able to stand trial and provide instructions to his lawyers.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca