Atikamekw woman has died of her injuries following assault at Saguenay, Que., hotel

An Atikamekw woman who was seriously injured at a Chicoutimi hotel on Sunday night has died from her injuries, according to Saguenay police.

Ève Chachai was found unconscious and in critical condition early Monday morning at the Hôtel Le Montagnais located 200 kilometres north of Quebec City. The 54-year-old woman was from the Atikamekw Community of Opitciwan.

"It was yesterday afternoon that we got confirmation from the hospital that the life support was taken off the victim and she passed away," said Hervé Berghella, a spokesperson for Saguenay police.

Berghella said a man on the scene was arrested.

Éric Latour, 44, is currently facing an aggravated assault charge in connection with the incident. 

"As the investigation will unfold, we will have more precise view of what was going on," said Berghella.

Jean-Claude Mequish, chief of the Opitciwan Atikamekw Council, told CBC News that Latour and Chachai were a couple. And the prosecutor for the case, Marie-Ève St-Cyr, confirmed the assault was a "domestic matter."

Mequish said everybody knows each other. He said Chachai was a pleasant, well-known member of the community. He said the community and the victim's family are in shock.

"She was a very, very nice woman," said Mequish.

The community of Opitciwan is holding a vigil in honour of Chachai Wednesday at 7 p.m.  Vigils are also planned for Wednesday night in the Atikamekw communities of Manawan and Wemotaci. 

"Violence in all its forms, especially against women, is a blight that must be denounced and eradicated," read a statement from the Opitciwan Atikamekw Council, posted to its Facebook page.

"Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends, and with all the members of Opitciwan affected by this tragedy."

The accused remains in custody and will be back in court on Friday. The prosecutor said it's too early to whether more charges could be laid, but that she is expecting more evidence from police.