GORE BAY—Family and friends of the late M’Chigeeng elder Johnny Panamick, 70, will be spared going through the ordeal of a trial following the news that charges against 28-year-old Kimel Corbiere, of Mindemoya, have been resolved with a plea.
Mr. Corbiere had been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of Mr. Panamick following a two-month investigation by the UCCM Police, under the direction of Detective Inspector Tracy Dobbin of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).
Mr. Panamick had been discovered beaten in his residence on the night of Sunday, May 11, 2014 and was transported to the Manitoulin Health Centre where he was then transferred to Health Sciences North in Sudbury with two broken legs, broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken cheek bone and numerous facial injuries. Mr. Panamick succumbed to his injuries on June 13, 2014. Regional coroner Dr. David Eden conducted the postmortem examination. It has been determined that Mr. Panamick had been assaulted between 7 and 11 pm inside his residence on Back Street in M’Chigeeng. No motive for the assault has been released.
Mr. Corbiere is to appear in Gore Bay court on November 29 to face victim impact statements and for sentencing. Mr. Panamick was one of 10 siblings, all of whom are reported to be in good health, and relatives report that the loss of their brother has been particularly hard on the family.
