Winnipeg woman accused of stealing from trust fund for niece awaiting transplant
WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg woman is in court this week for allegedly stealing from a medical trust fund set up for her niece who was waiting for a life-saving heart transplant.
Sheryl Matheson, who is 42, was arrested in March 2011 after police alleged she had withdrawn thousands of dollars and used it for personal purchases.
Her niece, Jessica Bondar, 19, died a few weeks later in a Montreal hospital.
Bondar had been battling health issues for two years after suffering heart failure due to complications from the flu.
Court has heard that Matheson set up the fund in 2009 and the Crown says she almost immediately began withdrawing funds.
Matheson has pleaded not guilty to fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
(CJOB)
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