Community calls for justice for Prince Albert, Sask., homicide victim Trevor LaPlante

With the man charged in a Prince Albert, Sask., homicide appearing in court Wednesday morning, the community is calling for justice for a beloved citizen.

Trevor LaPlante was found dead last month on 18th Street E. in Prince Albert, which is about 130 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

The 52-year-old was described as a selfless community icon.

The Prince Albert Police Service charged 33-year-old Michael Bird with second-degree murder and indignity to a body in LaPlante's death.

Bird made his second court appearance in provincial court at 10 a.m. CST. The case was adjourned until Aug. 28.

WATCH |Prince Albert community calls for justice for Trevor LaPlante:

Prince Albert community calls for justice for Trevor LaPlante

21 days ago

Duration 1:36

Trevor LaPlante was found dead last month on 18th Street E. Michael Bird, 33, is charged with second-degree murder and scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Jeff Perehudoff of Prince Albert organizeda rally to coincide with Wednesday's appearance. He said LaPlante's death is a great loss to the entire community.

Social media posts urgedlocals to rally at thecourthouse to show their desire for justice.

Nearly two dozen people were present in the court including LaPlante's family members, ex-employers and community members like Perehudoff.

"We are here for proper justice for Trevor. We want our city back, our streets back," Perehudoff said after the court appearance.

Perehudoff said his heart reaches out to LaPlante's family

"It was pretty sad in there today," he said. "This was a senseless murder."

Perehudoff said rally participants planned to walkto city hall after the court appearance.

'We want justice': mayor

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne saidWednesday that everyone in the community wants to know what happened to LaPlante.

"He wouldn't even hurt a fly. That's why we're in such shock, like who would attack and kill somebody like that?" he said.

"Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time?"

Dionne said the community wants the exact details.

"We're tired of the law. We want justice. We want the person punished," he said.

"We're worried that this person will get another slap on the wrist and away he goes, even though we've lost somebody in our community."

Jordan Matthew Palagian, LaPlante's nephew, told CBC News in a statement that LaPlante's death was crushing.

"My uncle's death was absolutely senseless and has completely destroyed and crushed our entire family. Things will never be the same. We are a small but tight knit family unit, and always have been," he said.

"We sincerely hope that the justice system prevails for Trevor. Whatever sentence he is given won't bring Trevor back, but his death is an absolute outrage to everybody."

LISTEN | CBC Saskatchewan's Blue Sky looked at crime in Prince Albert:

Blue Sky41:54Crime in Prince Albert

Communities all over the province are grappling with crime but people in Prince Albert say enough is enough. That community is reeling after the recent murder of Trevor LaPlante, a man who was well-known and loved in the city. Community members have organized a rally to ask for something to be done about the violent crime in Prince Albert. Today guest host Candice Lipski heard from the Mayor of PA, the Chief of Police and from a University of Saskatchewan professor who grew up in Prince Albert and now specializes in gang activity.