Victim's family fills courtroom for Xavier Justice Jimmy's first appearance on murder charge

The 21-year-old man accused of Saskatoon's seventh homicide of the year made his first court appearance Wednesday morning under the gaze of the victim's family.

Police have charged Xavier Justice Jimmy with second-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Wapass, 47.

Police found Wapass on the 1700 block of 20th Street West, in the city's Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, early Sunday morning. Officers were responding to reports of an injured man.

Jimmy dressed in a bright orange T-shirt and sweater, sporting shoulder-length dark hair quickly scanned those seated in the courtroom's public gallery Wednesday before taking a seat in the prisoner's box, only to be told by the judge to stand for his appearance.

Among the 20 or so Wapass family members seated in the courtroom were the victim's mother and some of his siblings.

• Gabriel Wapass, Saskatoon's 7th homicide victim remembered as loving, kind father

Warrant had been out for his arrest

Jimmy is also facing three outstanding federal charges: one count of drug possession dating back toJune 2017and two counts of failure to appear in court.

Jimmy failed to appear in court on his drug charge this past March, prompting a warrant to be issued for his arrest.

Jimmy had no lawyer. He was scheduled to appear again in court Friday morning.

"Done?" he asked at the end of his appearance.

Wapass family members comforted each other with hugs outside the courthouse after the proceedings.