Michelle Hunter has pleaded guilty in connection to a Chatham-Kent man dying in hospital over a year ago and Melvin Manley is expected to enter a plea to an unknown charge early next month.
Manley, 50, and Hunter, 42, appeared via video in a Chatham court on Thursday. They are among three co-accused who were initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Beau Veenstra, who died on Oct. 8, 2021 from injuries suffered during a physical altercation on Sept. 21, 2021.
Manley and Hunter were in court Thursday to enter pleas following co-accused Dalton Bastien, 26, pleading down to a lesser offense of manslaughter on Oct. 6.
Court heard the Crown attorneys involved in the case were unable to attend Thursday, but assistant Crown attorney Melanie Nancekievill indicated she was available to set a date for pleas to be entered.
After some discussions, Hunter was able to enter a guilty plea to the lesser of offense of obstructing justice. This enabled her to be released from custody on a $5,000 bond with several conditions.
Manley was remanded in custody and will return to court in person on Nov. 2 in order to enter a plea. Hunter is also ordered to return in person on that date where an agreed statement of facts will be entered.
A publication ban on the details of Bastien’s involvement in the case was ordered until after he is sentenced on Nov. 23.
According to previously published reports, Chatham-Kent police alleged a physical altercation took place Sept. 21, 2021, between the victim and three people inside a unit at a Sandys Street four-plex apartment building in Chatham.
“The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was transferred from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to Windsor Regional Hospital for medical attention,” police said.
Veenstra died in hospital on Oct. 8, 2021, as a result of injuries suffered during that altercation, police alleged.
Members of the major crime and intelligence sections arrested the three suspects the next day, police said.