May 21, 2008
Tim Cook, THE CANADIAN PRESS
ROSE VALLEY, Sask. - A father accused of leaving his two young daughters to freeze to death in a windswept, snowy field earlier this year didn't say a word as he made his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Christopher Pauchay of the Yellow Quill First Nation arrived at a makeshift court in the Rose Valley community centre wearing a black hoodie with skulls down both sleeves and the logo of heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden on the back.
The 24-year-old, who since the deaths has only been seen by the public in a dated family photo with his two daughters on Santa Claus's knee, wore black sunglasses in court. He only removed the glasses when the judge called him forward and asked if he understood the charges against him.
He nodded yes and the case was adjourned until June 11.
After the brief appearance, Pauchay walked straight through a throng of reporters and left in a pickup truck driven by his father.
Pauchay was charged April 30 in the deaths of Kaydance, 3, and her one-year-old sister Santana. RCMP believe the two young girls got separated from their father in -50 C temperatures after the three left his home on the night of Jan. 29. Investigators said the children were found only wearing diapers and T-shirts.
Pauchay himself almost froze to death that night and was saved by a neighbour who heard him at her door. His hands were heavily bandaged as he attended court on Wednesday.
Relatives expressed disappointment when Pauchay was first charged in the deaths. The girls' mother said Pauchay had already suffered enough.
Marilyn Gilbert, justice co-ordinator at the Yellow Quill health centre, said opinion on the reserve 150 kilometres east of Saskatoon is split about whether the Crown should pursue the case.
"It's divided," Gilbert said outside court. "Half say yes and half say no, so you can't really say yes or no definitely."
Gilbert said she has known Pauchay almost all his life and has tried to help him deal with the deaths. She said he use to be a happy-go-lucky guy, but has become withdrawn since his daughters died.
"He's been very quiet, subdued, not his usual cheerful self," Gilbert said. "He was really very good with his children. He was always with them. They were always well fed, well kept, well looked after. Very loved."
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
2 comments:
That poor fellow ....alcohol is a life of HELL.
The death of those two girls was such a tragedy. I'm sure the father will have a difficult time living with that burden, regardless of the court outcome.
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