GORE BAY—Byron Joseph Kagige of Hamilton was sentenced on September 28 at the Gore Bay courthouse for his role in the 2015 death of Wiikwemkoong’s Percy Simon Jr. Mr. Kagige had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
In May 2015, Percy Simon Jr., who was living in Sudbury with his partner and their children, had returned home to Wiikwemkoong for a weekend visit.
As previously reported in The Expositor, on May 17, 2015, Wikwemikong Tribal Police received a 9-1-1 call at 6:45 on Sunday morning about an altercation that had occurred at a home on Andrew Crescent. When police arrived, Mr. Simon’s lifeless body was found outside. Following an investigation by the Wikwemikong Tribal Police, assisted by the Ontario Provincial Police North East Region Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) Acting Detective Inspector Gilles Depratto, three individuals were charged, initially with second degree murder. Charges were later upgraded to first degree murder against Robert Travis Wemigwans and Tammy Trudeau, both of Wiikwemkoong, and Byron Kagige of Hamilton.
The other two accused were sentenced in the spring of this year. Robert Travis Wemigwans of Wiikwemkoong pleaded not guilty to first degree murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 7.5 years less 4.5 years’ credit for time served. Tammy Lou Elaine Trudeau, also of Wiikwemkoong, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter but guilty to assault causing bodily harm. Ms. Trudeau was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment less three months credit for time served, followed by two years’ probation.
On September 28, Mr. Kagige was sentenced to 12 months’ custody (he has already served 11 months of pre-sentencing custody), three years’ probation, is prohibited from owning or using a firearm for 10 years and must submit a DNA sample.
