Winnipeg (Rajeev Sharma): The trial of Jamie Felix, accused of a 2023 mass shooting in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighborhood, heard emotional testimony from the defendant’s mother regarding his deteriorating mental state and troubling communications. Mary Felix told the Court of King’s Bench on Thursday that she contacted authorities herself after hearing rumors of her son’s involvement in the violence at a local rooming house. Driven by what she described as a mix of concern and intuition, she provided police with screenshots of Facebook messages exchanged with her son in the immediate aftermath of the killings, which claimed five lives.
During her testimony, Mary Felix detailed a history of substance abuse and psychological struggles that plagued her 35-year-old son following the death of his twin brother years earlier. She described him as appearing like a “different person” during bouts of paranoia, noting that her attempts to secure medical intervention for him were often unsuccessful. The court reviewed several messages sent by the accused, including ominous statements suggesting he would not “be around for long” and intended to live “to the fullest” until authorities arrived. These exchanges occurred shortly after the shooting of Crystal and Stephanie Beardy, Melelek Lesikel, Dylan Lavallee, and Shawn Marko.
The prosecution’s narrative depicts a chaotic environment leading up to the tragedy, alleging that Felix had been consuming crack cocaine and alcohol at a residence known as a gang-operated “crack shack.” While the jury was cautioned not to judge the defendant based on his father’s or brother’s known gang affiliations, the trial highlighted the stark contrast between Felix’s recent struggles and his earlier achievements, including a high school diploma, service in the army reserves, and college attendance. Mary Felix attributed much of her son’s downward spiral to unresolved trauma and the negative influence of his father’s lifestyle.
In a sharp cross-examination, defense counsel Theodore Mariash questioned the authenticity of the digital evidence, suggesting that other family members had access to the Facebook profile used to send the messages. Mariash argued that Mary Felix’s cooperation with the police was rooted in maternal “intuition” rather than concrete knowledge of her son’s actions. As the trial continues before Justice Alain Huberdeau, the court expects to hear more about the forensic and situational evidence surrounding the November 2023 incident.
