Richard Froese
South Peace News
New dates for a trial have been set for a young High Prairie woman charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a seven-month-old boy in October 2022.
A 20-day trial for Kyra Renee Backs has been scheduled for Jan. 5-30, 2026 in Court of King’s Bench in Peace River, states information provided by Court Checks media communications for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General.
The dates were scheduled May 22 in Court of King’s Bench.
If the trial proceeds as scheduled, it will be over three years since the alleged incident occurred.
Backs was first charged on Oct. 15, 2022 by the RCMP in connection with the sudden death.
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit was called to investigate an incident that was later called a homicide.
An RCMP news release issued Oct. 13, 2022 by Cpl. Deanna Fontaine, Media Relations Officer, Western Alberta District RCMP, says High Prairie RCMP received a report from the High Prairie Health Complex on Oct 6 about 4:30 p.m.
“. . . of the sudden death of a seven-month-old male infant from High Prairie that occurred at a residence in High Prairie,” Fontaine wrote.
Police immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
“An autopsy was conducted on Oct. 11, 2022 at the Edmonton Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the seven-month-old infant’s manner of death was determined to be a homicide.”
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit took over the lead in the investigation assisted by the High Prairie RCMP, Alberta RCMP Forensic Identification Services and the Western Alberta District RCMP General Investigation Section.
Backs operated a day home in High Prairie at the time of the incident.