Cousin charged with killing Hilary Bonnell

The RCMP have laid a first-degree murder charge against a cousin of Hilary Bonnell, the 16-year-old girl whodisappeared in September fromtheEsgenoopetitj First Nation in New Brunswick.

Curtis Bonnell, 29, wascharged Tuesday in Miramichi provincial court, police said.

RCMP said they are confident no one else was involved in Hilary's death, but are continuingto investigate whether anyone elsegot involved after her death.

More than 200 police officers have helped in the three-month investigation, Insp. Roch Fortin tolda new conference Wednesday at the investigation headquarters in Tracadie-Sheila, N.B.

Fortin declined to divulge any details for fear of jeopardizing the case. But he saidthe community shouldn't carry any burden for not finding Hilary's body more quickly. It wouldn't have changed the outcome, he said.

The girl'sbody was found in a heavily wooded area in Tracadie-Sheila in November.

The teenager disappeared Sept. 5 from the Esgenoopetitj First Nation, commonly known as Burnt Church, in northeastern New Brunswick. She had attended a party on the reserve with friends the night before and was last seen walking along Highway 11 atabout 7:30 a.m. AT.

'A little bit of justice'

Hilary's mother, Pamela Fillier, expressed relief that a murder charge has been laid. "It's a little bit of justice for my little girl."

But the family's ordeal is far from over, she said, notingit will be difficult to face the holidayswithout her daughter. "Christmas is not Christmas not without her," said Fillier. "She's the biggest expense at Christmas and I enjoyed spoiling her, every bit of it. I'd spoil her all over again."

On Monday, Curtis Bonnell appeared in Miramichi provincial courton fourunrelatedcharges involving a 17-year-old female, including sexual assault, unlawful confinement and resisting arrest.

Nolink is alleged between Hilary Bonnell'sdeath and the assault case, butthe courtroom was packed with Bonnell family members and friends.Curtis Bonnell appeared via a video conference from the Moncton Detention Centre, where he is being held.

The17-year-oldin thesexual assault casewas a friend of Hilary Bonnell's, said her mother, adding she came to court to speak out for all victims.

Curtis Bonnellis toappear in Miramichi courton Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m.