Jeremy Skibicki acted out of hatred when he killed 4 Indigenous women, Crown argues as trial begins

A Crown prosecutor has told court the man who killed four women in Winnipeg staked out homeless shelters and targeted vulnerable, Indigenous victims.

The trial of Jeremy Skibicki, who is 37, started Wednesday morning in front of Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal.

The Crown alleges Skibicki acted out of hatred when he killed Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and a fourth unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman).

Contois, Harris and Myran are all First Nations. Police believe Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe was Indigenous.

Defence lawyers say Skibicki admits to the slayings but should be found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

The Crown says Skibicki preyed on women outside Winnipeg homeless shelters where he would then take them back to his apartment.

In each case Skibicki had sex with the women, choked them and killed them before disposing of their bodies in the garbage, prosecutors told court.

They say Skibicki’s actions were not only intentional but racially motivated.

The partial remains of Contois were found in a garbage bin and at a city-run landfill in 2022, and it’s believed the remains of Harris and Myran are at a different, privately owned landfill outside of the city.

Police have said the location of Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe is unknown.