WARNING: This story discusses graphic details that some readers may find upsetting.

A woman in 琉璃神社 who has been charged with murder alleges that she was driven to kill because she was raped.

Gabriella Sears, who is transgender, faces two charges: one count of second-degree murder and interfering with human remains.

On Oct. 3, Sears sat in the prisoner box in 琉璃神社 court while dressed in a red prison jumpsuit to listen to the proceedings of the voir dire.

Over the past few weeks, Crown and defence counsel have submitted applications as part of a voir dire, which is being held ahead of a trial in order to decide which information can be able to be presented in the trial, scheduled to begin on Oct. 16.

Sears was arrested on June 17, 2021, after the body of Darren Middleton was found by police at a home on Sycamore Road in 琉璃神社鈥檚 Rutland neighbourhood.

Crown described the crime scene as 鈥渉orrifying.鈥�

鈥淭he deceased was beaten and mutilated,鈥� said Crown counsel. 鈥淭he penis was partially severed and the testicles were missing.鈥�

Police have said that Sears and Middleton knew each other prior to the incident.

Sears was arrested approximately four hours after police found the body of Middleton and was taken to the police station.

While in custody but before speaking to a lawyer, Sears told police that she had killed Middleton and explained that the act was in retaliation to a sexual assault.

Her defence lawyer argues that this was an involuntary and 鈥渟pontaneous submission鈥� that was prompted by the violation of Sears鈥� rights by police.

Ahead of the trial, presiding judge Justice Ross must make a decision on what evidence will be able to be presented at the trial, specifically regarding two instances where Sears allegedly confessed to the murder.

鈥淪ears is painting a picture in which she is really the victim of sinister events,鈥� said Justice Ross to the 琉璃神社 courtroom after hearing a confession from Sears at the police station.

Justice Ross will decide whether the 鈥渟pontaneous admission鈥� that Sears made to police, in addition to other allegedly incriminating information, should be presented as evidence during the trial.

Defence argued that Sears鈥� rights were not respected. They allege that the spontaneous admission was not voluntary and was made against her will. The defence told the court that the police committed a Charter of Rights violation and did not provide Sears with access to legal aid in a timely manner after being arrested and that the spontaneous utterance should not be considered as evidence.

Crown counsel disagrees with this submission and argues that any delays experienced by Sears in accessing legal aid were reasonable given the circumstances.

Defence also argues that another Charter violation was made by RCMP in relation to the extensive strip search and sensitive exams that took place at the police station. Defence said that the strip was traumatic and insensitive considering a sexual assault is alleged to have taken place. Crown concedes that the strip search was a breach of Sears鈥� rights, but that it played no role in the confession.