Manslaughter suspect Sonya Pasqua, who was released on bail in February after failing to show for the start of her December preliminary inquiry, is in the wind again.
Court records show a warrant has been issued for her arrest, after she allegedly breached her new release conditions, which included she live with a relative on the Pasqua First Nation near Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., under 24-hour house arrest.
Pasqua is scheduled to stand trial next March along with her former partner, Michael Sinclair, for manslaughter in connection in the Oct. 5, 2021, death of their toddler son, Gabriel Sinclair-Pasqua.
The pair were arrested in February, 2023.
Gabriel was discovered in a Radisson Heights residence in the 2800 block of 14th Avenue S.E. Police and EMS responded to reports of the boy in medical distress. He was unresponsive when first responders arrived and was not able to be revived.
Defence lawyer James McLeod, who acts for Pasqua, said Friday he remains as counsel of record for the time being.
“I haven’t withdrawn yet. I’m still on,” McLeod said.
“Currently … it’s still scheduled for trial.”
He said there has not been a date set yet to address the issue of his client being at warrant status, but with a new lead Crown prosecutor on the case he anticipates there will likely be another pre-trial conference before the trial is set to begin March 10, 2025, and it could be raised then.
A warrant for Pasqua’s arrest was issued April 26 at the request of Crown prosecutor Carolina Valenzuela.
Pasqua was granted bail Feb. 15, on strict conditions by Justice Jim Eamon, despite opposition from then-lead Crown prosecutor Shane Parker, who has since been appointed to the Court of King’s Bench, forcing Vicki Faulkner to take over the case.
Eamon agreed with McLeod the accused could reside with a relative on the Saskatchewan first nation which bears her family name pending trial in the death of her 18-month-old son.
Parker, who on three earlier occasions consented to Pasqua’s release to three different sureties, opposed her freedom at that time.
Pasqua, 34, was on bail last December when she failed to show up for the first day of her preliminary inquiry in Calgary Court of Justice.
When she arrived about an hour into proceedings on the following day, Justice Karen Molle ordered her into custody and allowed her surety to withdraw his support for her release on bail, effectively detaining her pending another bail bid.
Sinclair, 31, remains in custody.