Man charged with second-degree murder in N.L. woman’s death

A court appearance for a man accused in the death of a Newfoundland woman took a dramatic turn as members of the deceased’s family gave voice to their grief.

Steve Bragg of Mount Pearl was in court to face a seconddegree murder charge in the death of 36-year-old Victoria Head, whose body was found near a walking trail in St. John’s, N.L., on Nov. 11. According to media reports, Darlene Dinn, Head’s sister-in-law, broke down in tears and hurled obscenities after the charge was read, yelling at Bragg as he was brought back into custody.

“I hope you see her every time you close your eyes,” she reportedly said.

Outside court, Dinn told reporters that the holiday season has made the loss of her sisterin-law even more painful.

“I feel like I’m empty. Christmas is two days away, and it was her favourite time of the year,” Dinn said, overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m broken. The family is broken. There is nothing anybody can do to bring her back. It’s huge, it’s so huge that we have someone (charged) but it still can’t bring her back. That’s all we want, is to have her home, to hug her.”

Victoria Head’s oldest brother, Billy Jo, told reporters that he laid eyes on Bragg for the first time on Saturday, and while he feels bad for Bragg’s family, he hopes justice is served.

“I want (Bragg) to suffer like my sister suffered,” he told reporters. “So many secrets, hopefully it all comes out.”

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says Head and Bragg were known to each other.