Will stand trial in Superior Court

GORE BAY—On Monday, September 26, it was ruled that the three accused in the first degree murder of Percy (Junior) Simon, a 33-year-old father, of Wikwemikong, will officially stand trial for those same charges in a Superior Court of Justice.

On May 17, 2015, Wikwemikong Tribal Police fielded a 9-1-1 call at 6:45 on Sunday morning about an altercation that had occurred at a home on Andrew Crescent. When police arrived, Mr. Simon’s lifeless body was found outside. Following an investigation by the Wikwemikong Tribal Police, assisted by the Ontario Provincial Police North East Region Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) Acting Detective Inspector Gilles Depratto, three individuals were charged, first with second degree murder then later upgraded to first degree murder: Robert Travis Wemigwans, aged 32, Tammy Trudeau, 44, both of Wikwemikong, and Byron Kagige, 57, of Hamilton.

Police did not release details of the cause of death, despite a post-mortem examination having been held.

According to Mr. Simon’s widow, Joannie Leedham, on the night of May 16 Mr. Simon attended the Andrew Crescent residence to have drinks with friends, but never came home.

“I wasn’t there, but I guess they had been drinking and there was a misunderstanding,” Ms. Leedham told The Expositor. “Things got out of control, but for three people to do this to someone is hard to understand. I feel angry. Someone should have stopped it. This never should have happened.”

“I never could have imagined this would happen,” Ms. Leedham added. “It was awful. He had goals, he had ambitions. What happened to him isn’t fair—it shouldn’t have happened.”

The charge of first degree murder requires some measure of planning the act.

This crime rocked the Wikwemikong community with some members holding a Take Back the Night march and rally later that summer.

A trial date has not yet been set.