Two Chatham residents accused of second degree murder a year ago are about to have their cases resolved.
Melvin Manley, 50, and Michelle Hunter, 42, both of Sandys Street in Chatham were charged with second degree murder in October of 2021 after Beau Veenstra, 31, of Howard Township died in the hospital of head injuries suffered during a fight at a Chatham apartment on September 21, 2021.
Hunter pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of obstructing justice on Thursday and has been released from jail on a $5,000 bond. During her release, Hunter is to have no communication or contact with several people, including the two other accused, Daulton Bastien and Melvin Manley. She is also banned from owning or possessing weapons and will reside in Blenheim during her release.
Manley is expected to plead guilty to an unknown charge at a hearing on November 2, 2022 and will remain in custody. The hearing will be held for both Manley and Hunter and an agreed statement of facts and victim impact statements will be presented to the court.
Police previously reported that Veenstra went to an apartment on Sandys Street in Chatham and allegedly got into a fight with two other men and one woman inside.
Daulton Bastien, 26, of Oxley Drive in Chatham was originally charged with second degree murder last October, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Chatham court on October 6, 2022.
A publication ban prevents further information from being made public.
Bastien will be sentenced on November 23, 2022.
A sentencing date for Manley and Hunter has not been set yet.