ESTEVAN — The two men charged in connection with a 2024 homicide at the White Bear First Nations are to stand trial in connection with the incident.
A joint preliminary hearing was held for Jeremy Whitebear and Dwayne Maxie in Estevan Provincial Court from Oct. 20-24. Both are charged in connection with the death of Talon Lonethunder last December.
Whitebear will stand trial for first-degree murder and kidnapping. He had previously been charged with second-degree murder.
Maxie’s trial will be for manslaughter and kidnapping. He was initially charged with manslaughter in Lonethunder’s death, but that charge was later upgraded to first-degree murder.
The evidence presented during the preliminary hearing is protected by a publication ban.
Matters for Maxie and Whitebear have now been moved to Court of King’s Bench, where the trial will occur. Both will make their next court appearance Nov. 18 for a pre-trial hearing. A trial date has not been finalized.
Background: At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2024, the Carlyle RCMP received a report of an injured individual at a residence at White Bear. Officers immediately responded and located the 33-year-old Lonethunder deceased.
Charges were announced Dec. 5, 2024. Both men were on the run at that time. Whitebear was arrested two days later at White Bear. Maxie was apprehended Dec. 12 in Regina. They have since had multiple court appearances.
SaskToday will continue to have coverage of this story.
