Prince Albert child death case committed for trial

By Nigel Maxwell

The court case surrounding the death of a 13-month-boy will be tried by a judge and jury at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert.

That was the outcome of Monday’s preliminary hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court. The child’s father, 25-year-old Kaij Brass, stands charged with second-degree murder.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 10, police responded to a home on 23rd Street West near Second Avenue for a complaint of a family dispute. Following the visit, they took the child’s mother to police cells.

However, just before 11 a.m. that same day, police went back to the home after a report of a homicide of a child. Once police arrived, they found the young child dead and arrested the father, Kaij Brass.

Evidence heard during Monday’s preliminary hearing is protected by a publication ban, which is customary. A trial date will be set at a later date during a pre-trial conference at Court of King’s Bench.

In addition to the murder charge, Brass is facing a second charge of assault from the same date. That matter has been adjourned to Jan. 4.

The response by police to the West Hill home sparked criticism from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). Blatant discrimination and systemic racism were the words used by leaders at a press conference.

Chief Bobby Cameron demanded change in the justice system and the local police force.

During his impassioned speech, Cameron said the mother on multiple occasions pleaded with officers at the home, in the police car and in the prison cell to watch over her baby.

The FSIN and Prince Albert Grand Council said they carried out their own investigation and said the mother was fleeing a domestic violence situation. Those organizations said when officers arrived, they assumed her fear was alcohol-related and arrested her for intoxication, ignoring her pleas for help.

The Prince Albert Police Service did respond a week later, suspending two members with pay from active duty.

The Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission also confirmed the investigation of the three supervisory officers who worked that same day.