WINNIPEG — Published reports say a Winnipeg man has pleaded guilty to a pair of violent sexual assaults, including one on a teen who became a spokeswoman for the plight of missing and murdered aboriginal women.
The media reports said Justin Hudson, 21, pleaded guilty in a Winnipeg courtroom Monday to aggravated sexual assaults on the girl, who was 16 at the time, and a 23-year-old woman hours later in November 2014. Charges of attempted murder and assault with a weapon were stayed by the Crown.
Neither victim can be identified under a publication ban that was put in place Monday, both the Globe and Mail and the Winnipeg Sun said.
Police have said the teen, who was studying at a boarding school in Winnipeg, was out with friends celebrating the completion of her midterms the night of Nov. 7 when she became separated from them. Police say she struck up a conversation with two males and the trio walked to the Assiniboine River.
There, police say, the teen was attacked, sexually assaulted and ended up in the frigid water. She managed to crawl out of the river, but was attacked again and "left for dead." Police alleged the same pair beat and sexually assaulted the other woman a short time later, leaving her unconscious.
The teen was found — struggling to breathe — by two construction workers early the next morning and was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Her attack came not long after the body of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine was found wrapped in plastic in the Red River. Her killing remains unsolved.
In the months that followed the teen went public with her story and used it to push for a public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
The case of a youth who was also charge in the attacks two attacks remains before the court and he remains behind bars.
