Paris Jayanne Laroche pleaded not guilty on Monday, Jan. 22 to a pair of serious charges, including murdering her ex boyfriend. (Submitted

By Ian Holmes

murder trial

Nanaimo woman pleads not guilty to murdering & dismembering former boyfriend

Jan 22, 2024 | 2:07 PM

VANCOUVER — A highly anticipated murder trial is underway in BC Supreme Court for a woman accused of killing her former boyfriend then dumping his body parts around Nanaimo.

On Monday, Jan. 22 Paris Jayanne Laroche, 28, pleaded not guilty in supreme court in Vancouver to charges of first degree murder and indecently handling the remains of 32-year-old Sidney Joseph Mantee.

Laroche allegedly attacked Mantee with a hammer on March 5, 2020, then dismembered Mantee into pieces and for the next several weeks spread the remains into several locations around Nanaimo.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barber opened the trial by stating Laroche’s lawyers intend to argue the killing was an act of self-defence, however Barber said it’s the Crown’s view that the slaying was not done out of fear.

Barber told court in early October 2020 Mantee’s mother contacted the RCMP in Saskatchewan to report her son missing.

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Nanaimo RCMP were contacted, who reached out to Laroche via email, asking if she knew where Mantee was.

In an Oct. 5, 2020 response, Laroche stated she didn’t know where he was and that he packed up and left after they broke up.

“If I have any more info I will be sure to pass it along,” Laroche wrote via email.

The accused reiterated her position in follow-up correspondence with Nanaimo RCMP.

In mid June, Barber stated Laroche arranged for a junk removal worker to transport several items from the Rosehill St. apartment she and Mantee shared.

Mattresses, furniture and numerous miscellaneous items that were among the items transported to the Nanaimo landfill.

The missing persons investigation shifted dramatically on April 19, 2021, when Barber said Laroche confided with a longtime friend about what happened to Mantee.

“…Robyn Bartle and Paris Laroche were sitting outside by a fire…and indicates that she had just finished disposing of Sidney Mantee’s body.”

Generalities were provided by the accused, according to Barber, about how Laroche used a hammer, dismembered his body and disposed of his remains around Nanaimo.

“Ms. Bartle we expect will testify she didn’t want to know anymore, she was shocked by what she heard, so Ms. Bartle went to the police.”

Barber noted Bartle emphasized to police Laroche’s relationship with Mantee contained abuse.

Mantee’s DNA was found in several locations in the apartment Laroche and the victim shared following a late May 2021 search warrant, Barber told court.

A search warrant between May 27-30, 2021 at 222 Rosehill St. Laroche and Mantee shared a ground-floor unit at the complex located just east of Terminal Ave. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Barber said a portion of Mantee’s remains were found at Hub City Fisheries in south Nanaimo where the couple first met and worked together.

Cst. Tim Mason of the Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crimes Unit testified that after the information from Bartle came to light an undercover police operation tactic to advance the investigation was launched.

Mason told court based on information gained through the operation, police were told where Mantee’s remains were placed.

The veteran Mountie stated several bone fragments, later confirmed to be Mantee’s, were found in July 2021 during police searches of Neck Point Park and nearby Pipers Lagoon Park.

A member of the public found a bone of Mantee’s in January 2022 at Pipers Lagoon Park, Cst. Mason noted.

Mason said Laroche did not report to police that she was the victim of abuse inflicted by Mantee.

Several other witnesses are scheduled to testify on behalf of the Crown, including civilian witnesses and multiple other police officers.

A publication ban applies to the identity of two undercover police officers.

The undercover officers are expected to detail how Laroche disclosed how she killed Mantee and precisely where she disposed of his various body parts.

The location of Laroche’s trial was recently changed when Justice Baird agreed to a venue change.

Laroche re-elected to be tried by judge-alone after originally agreeing for her case to be heard before a 12-member jury.

A former Wellington Secondary School student, Laroche was denied bail in July 2022 and ordered to stand trial a year ago.

Laroche is represented by high-profile criminal defence attorney Glen Orris.

She has no prior criminal charges or convictions.

Sidney Mantee was the source of a historical missing persons investigation, later elevated to a homicide file. (Nanaimo RCMP)

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes