Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Peter Michalyshyn declined to grant pre-trial release to David Michael Moss, who was arrested after Bella Rose Desrosiers was stabbed to death in her Mill Woods home on May 18, 2020
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An Edmonton man accused of murdering a seven-year-old girl has been denied bail.
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On Tuesday, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Peter Michalyshyn declined to grant pre-trial release to David Michael Moss, who was arrested after Bella Rose Desrosiers was stabbed to death in her Mill Woods home on May 18, 2020.
A publication ban prevents reporting on evidence heard during the hearing, as well as the legal arguments and the reasons for Michalyshyn’s decision.
Moss, 36, watched the proceedings by video from a southern Alberta remand center. He wore blue correctional system covers, held his hands behind his back and listened with his eyes downcast during Tuesday’s brief decision.
In an email, defense lawyer Rod Gregory confirmed Moss will seek to be deemed not criminally responsible by way of a mental disorder during his trial this June. Police at the time said Moss had been assessed by a mental health team just hours before Desrosiers was killed.
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People who are found not criminally responsible can be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital, with their release governed by the Alberta Review Board. If convicted criminally, Moss faces life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 to 25 years.
Desrosiers was well known in her community for her annual lemonade stand in support of Stollery Children’s Hospital. After her death of her, her mother and sister of her ran the stand in her honor of her.
Melissa Desrosiers said that her husband, Bella Rose’s father, died by suicide in July 2019 and that Bella Rose Desrosiers was passionate about mental health. Moss was described at the time as a family friend.
Moss’s trial is scheduled to begin June 6 before Justice Steven Mandziuk.
