Charges in boy's murder

Police say two people are charged with the 2018 firstdegree murder in the death of a six-year-old boy in Port Alberni.

RCMP say they arrested 28-year-old Rykel Frank and 29-year-old Mitchell Frank on Friday.

Police say six-year-old Dontay Lucas was found dead on March 13, 2018.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council identified Rykel Frank as Dontay's mother and Mitchell Frank as his stepfather, and thanked the RCMP for their work, saying it is a “huge relief'' that charges were laid.

Judith Sayers, president of the council, however called out the justice system saying it has to do better and the family has a long wait ahead for the trial to begin.

“The death of any person is very sad, but it is even sadder when it is a young child with their whole life ahead of them,'' she said in a statement.