Breanna Menacho’s accused killer was out on bail on armed robbery charges when he allegedly murdered the 22-year-old in Yellowknife last week.
Yellowknife’s Devon Larabie, 27, was released on bail with conditions on March 20, two days after being arrested and charged with robbery and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, court documents show.
He was expected to return to court in June to answer to the robbery charges.
He’s alleged to have robbed the Circle K Convenience Store, located on Forrest Drive, at knife-point in the early morning hours of March 17.
On Friday, Yellowknife RCMP announced Larabie had been charged with murder in the death of Menacho, whose body was found by police at Lanky Court - following a land and aerial search - on Wednesday evening.
She was reportedly last seen the day before near the uptown Walmart.
Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians are guaranteed the right not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause, and a myriad of variables - from public risks to having a secure and stable surety - are mulled before bail is either granted or denied.
It's unclear at this time whether Crown prosecutors opposed Larabie's bail release back in March.
Larabie is set to make an appearance in Yellowknife’s territorial court on Tuesday.
According to online posts bearing the hashtag #JusticeforBree, family and friends of Menacho are planning to gather outside the courthouse dressed in red to commemorate her life and the lives of all victims of Canada’s missing and murdered women and girls.