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Woman charged in death of Damian Moosomin seeks bail, again

Melissa Semaganis of Poundmaker First Nation was granted bail in June and arrested three months later

NORTH BATTLEFORD – A woman charged with accessory after the fact to murder is seeking bail, again.

Forty-one-year-old Melissa Semaganis of Poundmaker First Nation was granted bail in June and arrested three months later for failing to comply with release conditions not to consume or possess drugs or alcohol, being at large while on a release order, and possession of methamphetamine contrary to a release order. On Jan. 26 in North Battleford Provincial Court a bail hearing was scheduled for Feb. 15.

Semaganis and five others were charged in relation to Damian Moosomin’s death. Moosomin’s body was found in a yard in the 1500 block of 105 Street in North Battleford on May 16, 2020. He was reported missing to police on May 11, 2020.

Stormy Wapass-Semaganis from Edmonton, Tye Partridge, 23, from Moosomin First Nation, Denver Roy, 36, from Sweetgrass First Nation, and Jannay Blackbird, 32, from Saulteaux First Nation, were all charged with murder. The young offender, who can’t be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Partridge is also charged with forcible confinement, assault causing bodily harm, careless use of a firearm and breaching conditions in another alleged crime. A preliminary hearing has been set for Partridge in May 2022 on the murder charge.

In November, Roy pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of improperly interfering with human remains and the second-degree murder charge was dropped. He was sentenced to 300 days in jail and given 285 days credit for time served while in remand. 

Blackbird has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April in North Battleford Provincial Court.

Wapass-Semaganis had a bail hearing in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench in June and a judge ordered a ban on publication of the results.

The charges against the remaining accused haven’t been proven in court.