Woman accused in death of Mountie seeking release

Legal counsel for a woman accused in the recent death of an RCMP member told the court efforts are being made to work out terms for her possible release from custody.

Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, 42, appeared by telephone at Regina provincial court on Friday afternoon, as did an articling student from Winnipeg who spoke to the matter on behalf of the law office representing Pagee.

Pagee is one of two people accused of causing the death of Const. Shelby Patton, 26, who was stationed at the Indian Head detachment for the past 6½ years, on the morning of June 12 during a traffic stop in Wolseley.

A second person, 41-year-old Alphonse Stanley Traverse, is scheduled to return to court on Monday. As of now, he also remains in custody.

The two are accused of manslaughter as well as failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, possession of stolen property over $5,000, theft of a vehicle and breaches. Pagee is additionally charged with drug possession.

During Pagee's Friday appearance, articling student Andrew Mcdonald told the court he'd spoken to both his client and her family and was in the process of “trying to perfect a bail plan.”

The matter was set over to Wednesday so counsel could provide a better idea as to where things stand on a potential bail application. It was unclear whether a bail hearing might take place that day.

According to information previously released by the RCMP, Patton had been dispatched to Wolseley where he located two suspects driving a truck reported stolen from Manitoba. He had performed a traffic stop and was outside his police vehicle when he was struck by the truck, police said.

A member of the public stopped to help Patton, providing medical assistance until emergency responders arrived shortly after, but Patton died at the scene.

In addition to details previously released about the incident, RCMP issued a further statement this week clarifying that the investigation revealed Patton's firearm did not leave its holster.

RCMP said a farmer near Odessa called 911 at 8:38 a.m. — approximately 40 minutes after Indian Head RCMP learned Patton had been struck — to report a truck had been stolen from their property. Police reported finding both trucks near Francis.

Police said the suspects ran but were found and arrested just before 10 a.m. with help of a police dog, the RCMP Emergency Response Team and officers from nearby detachments.

Patton has been described as a genuine, kind and considerate man whose loss has been felt by his family, the RCMP and the communities he served.