Judge reserves bail decision in homicide case

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on June 9, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 27-year-old woman accused of killing another woman during an altercation late last year, will have to wait a few more days before she knows whether she’ll be released from custody pending her trial.
Following a lengthy bail hearing Wednesday in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench, Justice D. K. Miller reserved his decision until Monday to allow him time to review submissions by the Crown and Calgary lawyer John Oman. In the meantime, Melissa Martens-Lagasse will remain in custody in Calgary.
The accused, who appeared in court by CCTV from the female adult annex of the Calgary Young Offenders Centre, has been in remand custody since her arrest in November. She is charged with first-degree murder and causing an indignity to a human body, to which she pleaded not guilty during a court hearing April 25. The accused also previously chose to be tried by Queen’s Bench judge and jury, without a preliminary hearing.
Martens-Lagasse is accused of killing 34-year-old Megan Eekma of southern Alberta.
Police reported that on Nov. 19, 2021 the victim was travelling with another person to Alberta from British Columbia, and during the trip an “interaction” occurred near Pincher Creek resulting in Eekma’s death.
Police said as a result of their investigation and tips from the public, a suspect was identified, and on Nov. 22 the Alberta major crimes unit arrested and charged Martens-Lagasse.

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