The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Accused murderer James Desmarais remains behind bars awaiting a preliminary inquiry to be held in Flin Flon in April. Desmarais, 46, requested the inquiry _ whereby a judge screens the criminal charge against the available evidence _ at a pre-trial conference last August. He was able to do so without entering a plea, but Crown prosecutor Todd Rambow expects Desmarais will be pleading not guilty. Though Desmarais has been making regular court appearances in The Pas _ including three last month _ the preliminary inquiry is scheduled for Flin Flon. It is to take place April 2-5. Desmarais has been charged with second-degree murder in the Nov. 1, 2011 death of Raylene Dawn Grant, 21, in Flin Flon. Both were residents of Flin Flon at the time. Police have said Desmarais and Grant, were known to each other. Confidence Rambow, who is based in The Pas, told The Reminder last year he has confidence in the Crown's case against Desmarais. Meanwhile, in the other local homicide case before the courts, the accused will make his next court appearance in Flin Flon on Feb. 7. Mitchell Whitbread, 25, of Flin Flon has been charged with second-degree murder in the May 12, 2012 death of fellow Flin Flonner John (Kelli) Eyres. He has not entered a plea. Police said Whitbread and Eyres did not know each other.
