Judge to hear arguments about not criminally responsible defence for man who confessed to killing First Nations women

The trial of a man who confessed to killing four First Nations women will shift focus on Wednesday, as a Winnipeg judge hears arguments about his morality and mental capacity during the crimes.Earlier this week, Jeremy Skibicki, 37, admitted to killing 24-year-old Rebecca Contois, 26-year-old Marcedes Myran, 39-year-old Morgan Harris and an unidentified woman whom Indigenous elders have named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, meaning Buffalo Woman. But during the late-stage admission in court, his attorneys said they want him to be found not criminally responsible for the first-degree murders.Researchers, legal scholars and lawyers observing the case believe this relatively rare defence for Mr. Skibicki – commonly referred to as NCR – is expected to change the kind of evidence shown in court about the women’s deaths in 2022.