Hailey Lepine, 25, has been found not guilty of manslaughter, criminal negligence, and drug trafficking charges linked to the 2020 overdose death of Michael Crede in Brandon, Manitoba.
Justice Elliot Leven ruled on April 16 that the Crown failed to prove Lepine’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt after a three-day trial. Crede, 30, died after taking MDMA with his girlfriend, Chrissy Nepinak, who testified Lepine sold them the drugs. However, Leven found Nepinak an unreliable witness, citing her initial misleading statements to police and lack of corroborating evidence like text messages.
Lepine denied selling any drugs and testified she hadn’t communicated with Nepinak the day of Crede’s death. Leven noted Lepine’s honesty about her own drug use lent her credibility, contrasting with Nepinak’s inconsistent testimony. He also pointed out that the bad breakup between Lepine and Nepinak’s brother may have influenced Nepinak’s accusation.
“Considering the credible evidence of the accused along with the less credible evidence of [Nepinak], there is obviously a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the accused,” Leven wrote in his decision, clearing Lepine of all charges.
Source: Swifteradio.com
