A man from Burton, identified as Jared Smith, has changed his plea to guilty for manslaughter in the case involving the killing of Sheri Lynn Sabattis, a member of the Wolastoqey community, also referred to as Welamukotuk. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed this development on Thursday. Initially facing a second-degree murder charge in 2024 concerning Sabattis’s death, Smith has now admitted to the lesser offense of manslaughter.

Sabattis, aged 54, was discovered deceased in a residence within the Wolastoqey community on April 27, 2024. Following the grim discovery, Smith was promptly apprehended by the RCMP on the same day. The RCMP provided a concise statement regarding the alteration in the charge against Smith without delving into specifics.

During a remote court appearance in Burton on Thursday, Smith entered his guilty plea for manslaughter. He is currently in custody awaiting his upcoming court hearing scheduled for November 9. Notably, a trial for the initial second-degree murder charge was set to commence next month before the plea change.