Thunder Bay attempted murder accused released on bail with house arrest and GPS monitoring

THUNDER BAY – NEWS – A 40-year-old Thunder Bay man charged with attempted murder has been released on bail under very strict conditions, including house arrest, electronic monitoring, and a no-contact order.

The release, ordered Wednesday, April 15, 2026, means George Ernest Palosaari will remain in the community while the case proceeds through the courts. As with all criminal cases, the charge has not been proven in court, and Palosaari is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Release order sets strict conditions in Current River

Justice of the Peace Jerry Woods ordered Palosaari released on $30,000 no-deposit bail. In practical terms, that means no cash was deposited up front, with the release instead backed by sureties and court-ordered conditions. Under the Criminal Code, release orders can include sureties and financial promises tied to compliance with bail terms.

Under the release order, Palosaari must live with his surety at her residence in the Current River area. He must remain inside the home at all times unless he is in the presence of one of his two sureties, Nicole Machan or Robert Dingwell.

The court also ordered that Palosaari have no contact, directly or indirectly, with complainant Shaldon Paul Ryan Wabason or with any witnesses. He is also barred from being within 100 metres of those individuals.

Other conditions prohibit him from possessing weapons, cell phones, pagers or other electronic devices. He must also wear a GPS ankle monitor at all times.

Attempted murder is among the most serious charges in the Criminal Code

Attempted murder under section 239 of the Criminal Code is a straight indictable offence and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The section sets out different punishment provisions in cases where a firearm is alleged to have been used, depending on the circumstances of the offence.

To secure a conviction on attempted murder, the Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill and committed an act that went beyond mere preparation toward carrying out that intent.

Next court appearance set for May 11

Palosaari is scheduled to return to court on May 11, 2026. All accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.