Judge finds admitted serial killer guilty of first-degree murder

A judge has found Jeremy Skibicki guilty of first-degree murder in the killings of four women in Winnipeg.

Defence lawyers had argued Skibicki should be found not criminally responsible and said he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the slayings in 2022.

But Crown prosecutors said he had the mental capacity and awareness to commit and cover up the killings.

The trial heard Skibicki targeted the women at homeless shelters, strangled or drowned them and disposed of their remains in garbage bins.

The case renewed calls for governments and organizations to address the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

A first-degree murder verdict carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

More coming.

The federal government has a support line for those affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: 1-844-413-6649. The Hope for Wellness Helpline, with support in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, is also available to all Indigenous people in Canada: 1-855-242-3310.

1:04 Trial hears Jeremy Skibicki killed 4 women because he was on a ‘mission from God’