TEEN CHARGED IN ECSTASY DEATHS

RCMP Applauds Community's Help

The teen accused of supplying two Paul Band First Nation girls with
fatal doses of ecstasy has been charged with criminal negligence.

"The RCMP always gets their man," said band spokesman Dennis Paul. "In
the meantime, there's grieving and loss."

The community 80 km west of Edmonton is mourning two teens killed
after taking ecstasy at a wedding Saturday night.

Leah Dominique House, 14, died in hospital Wednesday. Her friend
Trinity Dawn Bird, 15, was taken off life support at the Stollery
Children's Hospital a day earlier.

Two others fell ill, but are expected to recover.

Charged with four counts of trafficking a controlled substance is a
16-year-old boy whose name is protected under the Youth Criminal
Justice Act.

The teen also faces two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily
harm, as well as two counts of criminal negligence causing death.

It's unusual for such charges to be laid under those circumstances,
said Alberta Justice spokesman David Dear.

"It's rare," he said.

The deaths prompted Mounties to put out a public plea, asking those
with information to come forward about the overdoses.

And yesterday, RCMP Cpl. Wayne Oakes applauded the community for doing
so.

"There was good co-operation from the public, from the Paul Band First
Nation; that speaks very highly of their concern over this issue," he
said.

"And the fact they were willing to step forward and be responsible, to
be accountable and truly represent their community."

Vanessa Hunter, whose wedding reception was the scene of the
pill-popping, said a group of young wedding crashers dropped by her
special night.

She didn't think much of it, she said, until she woke up Sunday
morning to some awful news.

"It's really sad what happened," Hunter said. "I'm hoping it'll open
up these young kids' eyes.

"It's not good to do drugs."