Nanaimo, Canada – A woman in Nanaimo, British Columbia, is on trial for the alleged murder and dismemberment of her ex-boyfriend, Sidney Joseph Mantee. Paris Jayanne Laroche, 28, faces charges of first-degree murder and interference with a dead body in connection to the case. The trial, which is taking place in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, entered its fifth day on Friday, Jan. 26, with chilling testimony from an undercover investigator.
Testimony revealed that Laroche unwittingly confessed to using a knife, hammers, and saws to kill and dispose of Mantee. The undercover officer, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, gained Laroche’s trust and obtained details about the alleged murder. Laroche allegedly confessed to striking Mantee in the head with a hammer, cutting up his body with saws, and using a sledgehammer to break up his skull and larger pieces of bone. She also allegedly admitted to slashing Mantee’s throat with a knife and keeping his bones in her refrigerator after the murder.
During a covert operation in April 2021, Laroche handed over items to investigators at her Rosehill Street apartment, including a hammer that she claimed was used in the murder. She also showed officers the locations where she said she disposed of Mantee’s body, including Pipers Lagoon, Neck Point Park, Diver Lake, and a pier on Newcastle Avenue.
The trial is scheduled to last 20 days and had to be relocated to Vancouver due to the lack of appropriate facilities to house Laroche in Nanaimo. In addition to the undercover officer’s testimony, the court heard audio from the investigation. The trial is set to resume on Monday, Jan. 29, with Crown counsel Sabrina Avery and Nick Barber representing the prosecution, and Glen Orris and Robyn Young serving as Laroche’s legal representatives. Justice Robin Baird is presiding over the trial.
The graphic details of the case have shocked the community, and the trial has garnered significant attention both locally and nationally. As the proceedings continue, the prosecution will seek to build a strong case against Laroche, while the defense will have the opportunity to present their arguments and evidence. The outcome of the trial will have far-reaching implications for all parties involved, and the community eagerly awaits the verdict.