Police watchdog investigates letter from Edmonton police opposing plea deal in child's death

Alberta's constabulary guard dog is investigating a alphabetic character from Edmonton law that asked coronate prosecutors to overturn a plea agreement in a homicide case.

The investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) focuses on a letter, sent on Sept. 8, 2025, in the middle of court proceedings regarding the criminal prosecution of Ashley Rattlesnake, said a news release from the agency sent on Thursday.

Rattlesnake had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of eight-year-old Nina Napope Dumais. 

The letter from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) was released the day before Rattlesnake was due in court. It decried the Crown's acceptance of a manslaughter plea instead of proceeding to a murder trial in the death of Nina.

The letter was sent by then-interim chief Warren Driechel and signed by EPS lawyer Megan Hankewich. It asked Kimberley Goddard, Alberta’s former assistant deputy minister of justice, to intervene and act to abandon the plea deal.

Rattlesnake was sentenced in February to eight years but will serve three years and nine months after credit for time served. 

When handing his sentence, Justice Jody Fraser said he considered EPS’s conduct to be a mitigating factor and identified potential misconduct.

“We are committed to strengthening our relationship with the Crown and improving collaboration and accountability within the justice system…. Our thoughts remain with the Napope family, who we will support as they continue to mourn Nina’s loss.”

In September, Edmonton's police chief said the force is working to repair its relationship with Crown prosecutors after provoking a public confrontation with them over a plea deal in a child killing.

"We're hoping ... We won't have to do that again," said Driechel, who had been promoted from interim chief to the top job.

"It was a last resort for us to try to get some kind of traction or motion forward. This was about us trying to open up that dialogue."

The ASIRT news release said that Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services, had referred the matter on June 5 to the Police Review Commission (PRC).

The commission has directed ASIRT to investigate the incident as a Level 1 matter, according to the news release. Under the Police Act, this includes cases involving serious injury or death, or sensitive concerns about an officer’s actions.

“ASIRT’s role is to provide independent oversight when serious or sensitive questions arise about police conduct. This investigation will be conducted carefully, fairly and without predetermined conclusions,” said Matthew Block, ASIRT’s acting executive director, in the statement.

“Our responsibility is to follow the evidence, assess the matter within our mandate and provide the public with confidence that the process is independent.” 

The news release said the categorization of a complaint and the opening of an investigation are not findings of misconduct and will not comment on evidence while the investigation is ongoing.

ASIRT is an independent civilian-led agency that investigates serious incidents involving police across Alberta, including those resulting in serious injury or death, as well as potential criminal offences.

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