Dawn Walker to remain in jail until bail hearing on Friday

A 48-year-old woman charged with abduction and public mischief in Saskatoon will have a bail hearing on Friday.

Dawn Walker disappeared from Saskatoon on July 24 with a minor. The two were found on Aug. 5 in Oregon City, Ore., where she was arrested.

Walker was extradited last week from the U.S. to Canada. She’s facing two charges in the U.S. associated with using false identification documents.

Prior to Walker’s first court appearance in Saskatoon on Monday, supporters gathered outside of Provincial Court where a song was sung and several people held signs reading “criminalize coercive control,” among others.

Walker made her first appearance accompanied by defence lawyers Christopher Murphy and Tara Boghosian, who were there on behalf of Toronto lawyer Marie Henein.

As Walker entered the packed courtroom, several of her relatives and friends began waving and silently gesturing their support for her.

Prosecutor Tyla Olenchuk said the Crown was opposed to the woman’s release, and she asked for and was granted a publication ban on anything identifying the minor involved in the case.

A no-contact order was granted involving the minor, along with two other people associated with the case.

The defence cited a letter that had been written to Saskatoon Police Service Chief Troy Cooper, objecting to conditions women endure while in custody during weekends in the Saskatoon Police Service jail.

The letter said Walker did not have a pillow, mattress or blanket over the weekend, and was not given a toothbrush or access to a shower until Monday.

Outside the courthouse, Walker’s sister said she was upset and angry.

Kathy Walker (second from left) speaks outside Saskatoon Provincial Court on Aug. 29, 2022. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

“They’re treating her like she’s this dangerous criminal. And then the fact that they’re ordering her to have no contact … who they hell are they protecting here? Who are they actually protecting?” Kathy Walker asked.

“We’re really angry now with the position that they’re taking. It’s not fair,” she added.

She also objected to the conditions in which her sister was held in jail.

“The conditions that they subjected her to for the last three days were just horrible,” Kathy said.

She said she and her fellow supporters would do anything they could to fight for Dawn; Kathy added she didn’t believe her sister was a flight risk.

“I can’t believe that they would be opposing her release … They’re able to release murderers and people that have committed really violent crimes … That makes no sense at all,” Kathy said.

Dawn Walker has been taken to Pinegrove Correctional Centre near Prince Albert, where she’s to remain until her next court appearance on Friday.