Manslaughter suspect Amanda Ahenakew fails to appear in court; preliminary inquiry continues without her
The accused woman left her court-mandated residential treatment program and is now considered an absconded accused. The judge will rule September 4.
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A preliminary inquiry into a Calgary manslaughter case moved forward Tuesday without the accused present after her lawyers indicated she has disappeared.
Amanda Robyn Ahenakew, 47, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the March 14, 2025, death of 73-year-old George Fernandez. Her defence lawyers, Krysia Przepiorka and Erica Gouchie, told Justice Lloyd Robertson they were last in contact with their client the week of July 29. Ahenakew has since left the residential treatment centre she was required to live in as a bail condition.
"Ms. Gouchie has reached out to her mother in Saskatchewan and we have not heard anything back," Przepiorka told the court. She asked the judge to declare Ahenakew an absconded accused and allow the inquiry to continue in her absence.
Ahenakew had completed the first stage of her residential treatment program but failed to advance to the second stage, at which point she left. Her lawyers said one of her bail conditions was a residential clause that she violated when she departed.
Police said officers were called to the 900 block of 7th Avenue S.W. around 8 a.m. on March 13, 2025, and found Fernandez in medical distress. He was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition and died the next day. After reviewing CCTV footage, police indicated that they believed a woman entered a building to take packages from the lobby. When Fernandez intervened, an altercation ensued during which Fernandez fell and hit his head.
Justice Robertson heard two days of evidence in early July before Crown lawyer Jack Kelly made arguments. The defence filed written submissions and presented oral arguments Tuesday. Robertson will hand down his ruling on September 4.
The facts
Who died in the March 2025 incident that led to this manslaughter charge?
George Fernandez, a 73-year-old man, died on March 14, 2025, after police found him in medical distress at the 900 block of 7th Avenue S.W. in Calgary on March 13, 2025.
When will the judge rule in this preliminary inquiry?
Justice Lloyd Robertson will hand down his ruling on September 4, 2026.
What happened to Amanda Ahenakew before her court date?
Amanda Robyn Ahenakew left the residential treatment centre she was required to live in as a bail condition, and her lawyers last contacted her the week of July 29, 2026.
