Crown stays murder charge relating to 2024 Regina homicide
The Crown has stayed a charge of second-degree murder brought in relation to the December 2024 death of Latavia Kay.
Jerek Dorian Tyler Favel first appeared in court to face the charge on Jan. 7. A document on the court file dated June 16 indicates the Crown's decision to stop prosecution.
A stay of proceedings is technically different than the withdrawal of a charge. As stated in federal government literature, 'a withdrawal of charges means that the prosecution can never bring those charges back, but with a stay of proceedings, charges can be revived within a year.
However, the stay means that for now, Favel no longer faces the charge.
In an email to the Leader-Post, a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice wrote that in order to pursue a case, a prosecutor must be satisfied that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and that it is in the public interest.
'After careful consideration, it was determined this case no longer met the prosecution standard. Given this assessment, the prosecutor directed a stay of proceedings,' the email states.
Why would a prosecutor drop a criminal charge?
Man charged with murder in Regina's fifth homicide of 2024
Kay was the person police said they found Dec. 3 — laying on the ground at the 1400 Block of Argyle Street — having sustained what appeared to officers to be gunshot wounds. Police received the report around 5:30 a.m. and provided first aid until EMS arrived.
She was transported to hospital, but died on Dec. 6. At the time, her death was considered Regina's fifth homicide of 2024.
At that time, police released an overhead map showing the area where Kay was found and surrounding blocks, and asked residents and businesses for security camera footage from between the evening of Dec. 2 and the early morning hours of Dec. 3.
At Favel's first court appearance, Legal Aid Saskatchewan lawyer Tony Orlowski told Judge Michelle Brass that the case was 'unusual,' but he did not elaborate on the record.
An online obituary for Kay described her as a person who had a mind of her own, even as a child. It stated she taught and cared for her siblings, who looked up to her.
'She was positive, happy, encouraging and loving; she always wanted the best for her family and friends,' said the obituary.
People leaving online comments described Kay as a 'beautiful person.'
The obituary also described her as responsible, hardworking, careful with money, and generous.
'She was taken too soon,' it said, 'and she will be lovingly remembered and desperately missed by all who knew her.'
bharder@postmedia.com
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