Police in Slave Lake are investigating the murder of a 54-year-old Slave Lake man who died of a single knife wound to the chest in the early morning hours Monday. And they’ve charged a former friend, 53-year-old Julianna Wiyamaipeg, also of Slave Lake, with the murder.
“I guess they were friends at one time,” said Staff Sergeant Dave Shardlow Tuesday, adding Roy David Cardinal died at Wiyamaipeg’s home, a trappers’ cabin about 36 km north of Slave Lake.
Cardinal was one of several guests at the residence Sunday evening, Shardlow added, saying investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the death. The visitors, he said, included several that had stopped “on their way home to Peerless Lake and Wabasca.”
An autopsy performed Tuesday revealed Cardinal died from a single stab wound to the upper right side of the chest. Shardlow says a witness showed up at Slave Lake’s RCMP detachment to report the murder Monday morning.
Police laid the second-degree murder charge, he explained, when their investigation revealed the killing “wasn’t premeditated — there was no planning involved.”
In fact police suspect the stabbing happened when the party turned sour. The staff sergeant could not say what type of knife was used in the attack, but said it was clearly not premeditated.
“This was a spur of the moment thing.”
Wiyamaipeg reserved her election and plea when she appeared in Slave Lake Provincial Court last Wednesday (Apr.16) morning. She’s expected back in the same courtroom today (Wed., Apr. 23).
A release from the Slave Lake detachment says RCMP’s K-Division Major Crimes and General Investigation unit is assisting with the investigation.

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