Birdtail man admits role in attacks that injured former chief
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VIRDEN — A Birdtail Sioux First Nation man has pleaded guilty to assaulting three men last year, including then-chief Lindsay Bunn Jr.
Christopher Wasteste, 35, pleaded guilty to assault and two counts of assault causing bodily harm in Virden provincial court on Friday.
Crown attorney Sarah Kok read a brief set of facts to the court.
On Feb. 13, 2025, Manitoba First Nations Police received a call just before 10 p.m. about an assault at a residence in Birdtail Sioux First Nation and were told that three people needed urgent medical attention.
Police then received a second call to go to a different house in the community. Police believed the calls were related and went to both addresses.
Officers found two injured men at the first residence.
“One male … had two large lacerations to the back of his head that were bleeding profusely, as well as swelling and bruising to his face,” Kok said. She said he also had “soreness” on his left side.
The other man at that residence had a laceration on the back of his head and believed he had a concussion, Kok said.
At the second home, police found a man with “significant injuries to his face and arms.”
One of the three men was initially transported to the Brandon Regional Health Centre, and STARS Air Ambulance later flew him to Winnipeg for “further medical attention.”
She said his injuries included multiple fractured ribs and a punctured lung that had “excessive” fluid leaking into it.
Police spoke with witnesses and victims, who said several people, including Wasteste, had gone to the residences with other “unknown individuals,” Kok said. They told police the victims had been “significantly attacked,” and the assault included Wasteste punching and kicking them.
Officers arrested Wasteste, and he gave a statement to police, during which he acknowledged his involvement and gave some explanation as to why the assaults happened, the Crown said.
Kok said the individuals were all known to each other.
The Sun previously reported that Bunn Jr. was hospitalized after he had been attacked in his home on Feb. 13, 2025.
Eric Chalmers, 24, and Faith Bunn, 33, were also charged in relation to the incident.
Chalmers’ charges were stayed in August 2025, and Bunn’s charges were stayed in court on Friday.
Kok said Bunn was alleged to be a party to the offence, but “the Crown is satisfied that with Mr. Wasteste having entered the pleas, there’s no public interest in proceeding with the charges on Miss Bunn.”
Wasteste is expected to be sentenced in July following a court-ordered pre-sentence report. The Crown said she will be asking for a prison sentence.
» sanderson@brandonsun.com