Defence lawyers argue judge should find admitted serial killer not criminally responsible

The crown and the defence in the case of admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki provided their closing arguments Monday, as the judge in the case is set to deliver his verdict in July. Edward Djan has more.

By The Canadian Press

Posted June 10, 2024 3:00 am.

Last Updated June 11, 2024 9:16 am.

Closing submissions are underway in the trial of a Winnipeg man who has admitted to killing four women.

Lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki are arguing he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the women’s slayings in 2022.

Court has heard Skibicki told a psychiatrist he felt compelled to kill the women because he was on a mission from God.

Skibicki has admitted to the killings but has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

His lawyers are asking Chief Justice Glenn Joyal to find Skibicki not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

Crown prosecutors, who are expected to provide their arguments later today, say the killings were racially motivated and Skibicki preyed on the Indigenous women at homeless shelters.

The month-long trial has heard graphic details of how Skibicki assaulted the women, strangled or drowned them and disposed of their bodies in garbage bins in his neighbourhood.

A forensic psychiatrist testified for the defence that Skibicki was suffering from schizophrenia while a court-appointed expert said Skibicki didn’t have a major mental health disorder.

Crown witness Dr. Gary Chaimowitz says he believes Skibicki was driven to kill the women because of his perverse sexual interests and knew what he was doing was wrong.

Skibicki, 37, is charged in the deaths of Rebecca Contois, 24; Morgan Harris, 39; Marcedes Myran, 26; and an unidentified woman an Indigenous grassroots community has named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.

The killings came to light after the partial remains of Contois were found in a garbage bin in Skibicki’s neighbourhood in May 2022. More of her remains were discovered at a city-run landfill the following month.

The remains of Harris and Myran are believed to be at a different landfill. It is not known where Buffalo Woman’s remains are located.

Courthouse rally

There was a rally outside the courthouse Monday as well calling for the search of the Prairie Green landfill where it is believed the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are.