Lawyer for Hat woman charged with murder ready to take a step at next court date
By Delon Shurtz Southern Alberta Newspapers on March 11, 2022.
The lawyer representing a Medicine Hat woman accused of killing another woman late last year promises to take a step when the case returns to court next month. The matter for 26-year-old Melissa Martens-Lagasse was in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, where Calgary lawyer John Oman noted he had emailed a “plan” to the Crown prosecutor and would take a step when the case returned to court April 7. In the meantime, the accused remains in remand custody, and Crown prosecutor Bruce Ainscough told court he is opposed to her release. He also pointed out any bail hearing will have to be held in Court of Queen’s Bench. 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, 2021 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. 8-7
