Winnipeg woman, 25, killed at home

Winnipeg police have charged a man with second-degree murder in connection with a beating that left his 25-year-old common-law wife dead.

Officers were called to the couple's home in East Elmwood around 4:30 a.m.CT Saturday.

When they arrived, they found Shannon Scromeda suffering from serious trauma from a beating. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but died a short time later.

It's believed the woman's young child was in the home at the time.

A 27-year-old Winnipeg man was taken into custody.

Police spokesman Const. Pat Chabidon said Monday that police had little contact with the couple before the weekend.

Several years ago, police investigated an alleged theft of property reported by Scromeda during a time when the couple was separated, Chabidon said.

Police have received no further calls since and had never received reports of domestic violence from the household.

Wayne Bosko, who lives in a house not farfrom where the assault took place on Manhattan Avenue,said he didn't know the family personally, but often saw the man and woman go for walks.

"They would always say 'hi,' and they have a three-year-old son and he was always yelling 'hi, hi' that type of thing," he said.

Other residents in the area describethe areaas a quiet neighbourhood.

'Really sweet person'

Scromeda worked for the City of Winnipeg and was chair of the sports and social committee for Local 500 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

On Monday,local president Mike Davidson, visibly upset by the loss,described Scromeda as a vibrant young leader in the union movement.

The union is waiting to hear from the family about possible fundraising for Scromeda's young son, he said.

A friend of Scromeda, who asked that his name not be used on CBCNews.ca, said friends told her to end her relationship with the man accused of killing her.

The couple would often fight, split up, then reunite, he said Sunday.

"Every time I tell her, I said, 'Yeah, he's not going to change. You know, how many times? When's it going to stop?' " he said.

"It's really sad, because she was such a really sweet person just a joy to be around."

The head of Alpha House, a shelter for women who have left abusive relationships, says progress has been made to combat domestic violence, but more needs to be done to help victims of abuse break the cycle.

"The shelters in Winnipeg and in Manitoba are still always full. It is still happening," said Glenda Dean.

"Across Canada, the incidents of domestic violence are huge. The cost to taxpayers, to us, is also huge, because it affects every aspect: the health aspect, the education aspect, social services. So the cost is huge as well."

Police say the death is the city's 14th homicide of the year, and the first blamed on domestic violence since 2006.