The trial for a Red Deer man who has been charged with murder in connection to the death of a Calgary woman in 2012 continues in Red Deer’s Court of Queen’s Bench this week.
Nathan Desharnais has been charged with second degree murder and offering indignity to human remains after the body of Talia Nellie Meguinis, 27, was found at a recycling facility in the Riverside Industrial area on Feb. 22nd, 2012 after police received a complaint at about 9:28 a.m. of a deceased female.
Two days of the trial took place last October in which a voir dire was held. A voir dire is a hearing within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence. The trial is expected to run through to mid-February.
In 2012, police said Desharnais’ arrest was a result of an extensive seven-month investigation that involved the Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section, Major Crimes Unit, Forensic Identification Unit, Victims Services and the Police Dog Service. The Calgary MCU, the ‘K’ Division Special Tactical Operations, Polygraph Sections in Calgary and Edmonton, the Calgary Police Service, and the Tsuu T’ina police also assisted.
There were 40 investigators who were dedicated to this case with more than 25,000 man-hours spent on the investigation, police added.
“Talia was a resident of the Calgary area who we believe arrived in Red Deer on approximately Feb. 17th,” said RCMP Const. Gary Kroeker, at the time of Desharnais’ arrest, adding police will not be releasing the cause of death as the case is now before the courts.
He added police believe Desharnais and Meguinis had just met the weekend she was murdered. She was traveling back home to Calgary from northern Alberta and stopped in Red Deer to visit family.
Meanwhile, in June of 2014, Desharnais was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison after being charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and unlawful confinement and imprisonment as a result of an incident that took place at his Red Deer home in June of 2012. The charge of unlawful confinement was dropped by the court after the crown stayed the charge. He is currently in custody serving that sentence at the Bowden Institution.
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
