Murder suspect makes brief court appearance

(Aaron Hall)

A 25-year-old Wallaceburg woman, who has been charged with first degree murder, made a brief court appearance in Chatham on Wednesday.

Wearing a dark green sweater and long hair past her shoulders, Kourtny Audette stated her name before the court and thanked the Justice of Peace after her brief appearance, which lasted approximately 1-minute via a video link.

On behalf of Audette’s lawyer Laura Joy, who was not in the packed courtroom, duty counsel asked for the matter to return on Tuesday, May 15 at 10:30 a.m. to obtain disclosure.

Joy, a Windsor-based lawyer, took over as Audette’s legal representative earlier this month.

Gudrun Mueller-Wilm had previously been named as the Wallaceburg woman’s lawyer.

In the meantime, Audette will remain in custody.

All evidence heard during the bail portion of the case is protected by publication ban.

As previously released by the Chatham-Kent Police Service, police officials allege that on April 18 at around 6:30 p.m. emergency crews responded to a residence on Book Street where a man was found without vital signs.

Nicholas Laprise, 24-years-old of Dover Township, was pronounced dead at the scene, police say.

Police officials say the cause of death will not be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Police called the incident “not a random act of violence” as Audette and Laprise were known to each other.

Police officials say detectives from the Major Crime Unit continue to investigate.

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