Local woman accused of murder will be back in Lethbridge court next month

By Delon Shurtz Southern Alberta Newspapers on February 11, 2022.

Twenty-six-year-old Melissa Lynn Martens-Lagasse, accused of killing an older woman late last year, is to return to court next month.

The accused’s lawyer, John Oman of Calgary, made a brief appearance Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court, but simply adjourned the matter to March 3. Oman said he had only recently received an extensive amount of disclosure from the Crown’s office, and needs more time to review the information.

The case was last in court on Jan. 13, but had to be adjourned because disclosure was not available at the time. Martens-Lagasse, who is remanded at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, was not required to attend court Thursday.

Martens-Lagasse is charged with the first-degree murder of 34-year-old Megan Eekma of southern Alberta. The accused is also charged with one count of causing an indignity to a human body.

Police reported that on Nov. 19 the victim was travelling with another person to Alberta from British Columbia, and during the trip an “interaction” occurred resulting in Eekma’s death.

Police said as a result of their investigation and tips from the public, a suspect was identified, and on Nov. 22 the Alberta major crimes unit arrested and charged Martens-Lagasse.

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