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Tina Fontaine: Raymond Cormier not guilty of Red River murder | Tina Fontaine: Raymond Cormier not guilty of Red River murder |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A Canadian man has been found not guilty in the death of indigenous schoolgirl Tina Fontaine. | A Canadian man has been found not guilty in the death of indigenous schoolgirl Tina Fontaine. |
Raymond Cormier, 56, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of the 15-year-old in 2015. | Raymond Cormier, 56, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of the 15-year-old in 2015. |
Ms Fontaine's body was pulled from Winnipeg's Red River on 17 August 2014, a week after she was reported missing. | Ms Fontaine's body was pulled from Winnipeg's Red River on 17 August 2014, a week after she was reported missing. |
Her death renewed calls from activists to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada. | |
On Thursday, the 11-person jury found Mr Cormier not guilty, after a day of deliberations. | On Thursday, the 11-person jury found Mr Cormier not guilty, after a day of deliberations. |
Moments after the verdict was read, the hashtag #justicefortinafontaine began to trend online. | Moments after the verdict was read, the hashtag #justicefortinafontaine began to trend online. |
A forensic pathologist testified during the trial that it was not possible to determine how Ms Fontaine died. | A forensic pathologist testified during the trial that it was not possible to determine how Ms Fontaine died. |
No DNA linked Mr Cormier to the murder. | No DNA linked Mr Cormier to the murder. |
He was arrested in December 2015 following a lengthy undercover sting operation by police. | He was arrested in December 2015 following a lengthy undercover sting operation by police. |
The Crown's case relied heavily on audio recorded by police of Mr Cormier during that operation. Various witnesses testified that Ms Fontaine and Mr Cormier were acquaintances. | The Crown's case relied heavily on audio recorded by police of Mr Cormier during that operation. Various witnesses testified that Ms Fontaine and Mr Cormier were acquaintances. |
She was raised by her great aunt, Thelma Favel, on the Sagkeeng First Nation, north-east of Winnipeg. She left her home to visit her biological mother in the provincial capital following her father's death. | She was raised by her great aunt, Thelma Favel, on the Sagkeeng First Nation, north-east of Winnipeg. She left her home to visit her biological mother in the provincial capital following her father's death. |
Police have described Ms Fontaine as "highly vulnerable" and said she was exploited during her time on the run. She was in the care of the child-welfare system in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when she disappeared. | Police have described Ms Fontaine as "highly vulnerable" and said she was exploited during her time on the run. She was in the care of the child-welfare system in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when she disappeared. |
Her body was found weighed down and wrapped in a duvet cover, and she was identified in part by the angel wings tattooed on her back. | Her body was found weighed down and wrapped in a duvet cover, and she was identified in part by the angel wings tattooed on her back. |
The discovery of her body sent shockwaves through the city. | The discovery of her body sent shockwaves through the city. |
Hundreds took to the streets and social media to demand better protection for indigenous women and girls. | Hundreds took to the streets and social media to demand better protection for indigenous women and girls. |
The murder also shone a spotlight on ways the system failed the teenager. On the last day she was seen alive, she interacted with police, hospital staff and child welfare workers. | The murder also shone a spotlight on ways the system failed the teenager. On the last day she was seen alive, she interacted with police, hospital staff and child welfare workers. |