A Winnipeg man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Regina Court of King’s Bench Wednesday in the death of 26-year-old RCMP Constable Shelby Patton from the Indian Head Detachment.

In June of 2021, the six year member of the force died in the town of Wolseley east of Regina after pulling over a vehicle believed to have been stolen in Manitoba. Constable Patton approached the vehicle and police report that it took off, striking and killing him. The truck and its two occupants were located and both were arrested a few hours later near the town of Francis.

Forty-four-year-old Alphonse Stanley Traverse was originally charged with manslaughter, but it was later upgraded to first degree murder. In court today (Wed), Traverse pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and to vehicle theft. He will be sentenced on February 29th.

Marlene Velma Louise Pagee was also originally charged with manslaughter, but that was changed to accessory after the fact to murder in Shelby Patton’s death and her case is still going through the courts.