Demers-Kennedy Sentenced to 10 Years

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

31 year-old Merlin Demers-Kennedy has been given 10 years less time served in the manslaughter of his mother, Michelle Marie Demers-Kennedy.

The Richmond County man was handed the sentence is Port Hawkesbury Court, this morning.

In court last month, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the case.

He had originally been charged with second degree murder.

Demers-Kennedy has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but was found fit to stand trial.

His mother was reported missing in May of 2013 and her remains were finally found last month after a number of extensive searches.

The Crown says police had drilled as many as 800 holes in the Framboise area in the two-year search.

In an agreed statement of facts, Demers-Kennedy says an argument broke out after he went to see his mother to take her to the police for raping him.

He told the court he then used a piece of rope to kill her and later buried her body in the woods.

 

 

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Gas Up, Diesel Down

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

As predicted, the price of gas went up, overnight.

Gas rose by 2.1 cents a litre and now goes for a minimum of $1.23.9 in Cape Breton.

Meanwhile, diesel dropped slightly by half a cent a litre and now costs a minimum of $1.08.4.

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Murder Accused Charged With Threatening Witness

Written by Dave Desveaux. Posted in Local News

Cape Breton Regional Police have filed charges against a Glace Bay man for allegedly threatening a witness. 24 year-old Morgan James McNeil is said to have uttered the threat after a preliminary hearing on June 2^nd. The hearing was being held in relation to the May 2012 murder of Laura Jessome, of Bras d’Or, for which McNeil is facing a charge of second degree murder. The latest charges against McNeil are uttering a threat, intimidating a witness and breaching a court order. Police say that an arraignment has not yet been scheduled in relation to the new charges.

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Geriatric Medicine Service To Be Suspended In CB

Written by Dave Desveaux. Posted in Local News

Geriatric medicine service will be suspended in Cape Breton as of August 1st. In a news release this afternoon, the Nova Scotia Health Authority says that a geriatric medicine specialist has resigned and will be leaving in July, while an internal medicine physician with a specialty in geriatrics will be pursuing a one-year fellowship in Ontario later this month. Family physicians will see the patients who had been previously referred to the two departing doctors, and some patients will also continue to be seen through the Seniors Mental Health service. Affected patients are now being notified, and notifications have been given to the Health Department, local nursing homes and Home Care. The Authority says that it’s in the process of trying to recruit new geriatric specialists and hopes to re-establish the service in the fall.

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Donkin Owners To Meeting With Community, Tonight

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The owners of the Donkin Mine are in Cape Breton to hold a meeting with the Donkin community liaison committee, this evening.

Area councillor Kevin Saccary says the owner of US-based the Cline Group is also expected to be at the meeting.

Chris Cline’s visit comes after United Mine Workers of America officials called him anti-union at last week’s Davis Day ceremonies and issued a warning that they plan to unionize Donkin.

Councillor Saccary also says that the Cline Group’s subsidiary, Kameron Collieries, has reached an agreement with Nova Scotia Power to test burn 400 tons of Donkin coal.

In recent weeks, the company has advertised for an underground mine Foreman, underground machine operators and Mechanical / Electrical mine Technicians.

 

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