Family reacts after murderer, kidnapper receives life sentence

“I was terrified,” Natomagan said outside of court. “He could have spun off and hit the ditch. I started crying as soon as I was in the cop car.”

Several hours later, Budd was found barricaded inside his brother’s Sturgeon Landing home and was taken into custody without incident

Budd received the mandatory life sentence in prison for second-degree murder, and will serve seven years concurrently on kidnapping and break-and-enter charges.

As well, a sentence of six months and 30 days will be served concurrently for October 2014 charges where he broke into Hennie’s house when she wasn’t home and soaked her bed in kerosene.

He will be eligible for parole after 14 years.

Outside the courthouse, Natomagan said it was hard to relive the abduction which has changed her life forever.

“I’m not the same as I was. There are days where it’s hard to get out of bed,” she said.

She said she tried counselling for a time once she was back home, but stopped going because it felt too soon to talk about what had happened. With sentencing finished, she said it now feels better to talk about it.

Natomagan submitted a victim impact statement to the court, but did not read it aloud.

Her mother Erica Hennie did, which she said brought back memories she’d hoped to never have to think of again.

On the stand she spoke of the “mental anguish” she suffered at the hands of Budd during their three-year relationship. Budd allegedly threatened her enough times to force her into hiding for several weeks and completely broke her sense of trust in anyone.

Hennie said she had faith in the justice system, but believes his parole eligibility period should be longer.

“He wants someone to take the blame for everything he’s done wrong,” she said. “It would be nice, but I don’t think it’s ever going to come to the point where he’s gonna realize the things he did. He’ll never take responsibility for the things he’s done.”

Tempers flared after victim impact statements were read, when Budd had a chance to speak to Judge Grant M. Currie.

He paced inside the prisoner box while he accused Bird’s family of being involved in gang activity and threatening him. He said he wished he wouldn’t have entered his guilty plea so he could have a trial and bring everyone’s “lies and deceit and B.S.” to light.

Getting more agitated as he paced, Budd brought the court to a standstill when he violently kicked open the door to the prisoner box, which prompted a five-minute adjournment. As he was walking out of the room everyone in court heard Budd loudly scream and swear in anger.

It was a tense atmosphere when court resumed, but there were no further outbursts and Budd apologized for the disturbance.

La Ronge Crown Prosecutor Robert McKenzie admitted he was careful with his wording when he said Budd’s flare-up spoke volumes about his mental and emotional state.

“I’ve seen many people in (the) prisoner’s dock in very difficult circumstances and I’ve seen virtually all of them behave in a respectful, sometimes upset, but dignified way. I did not see that today,” he said.

McKenzie said he was satisfied with the sentence and limit on parole eligibility given the “horrific nature of the offense…and the effect this has had on the victims and family.”

Though both Hennie and Natomagan said they were thankful for the guilty plea and sentence, they feel Bird did not receive justice.

“He didn’t deserve to go,” Natomagan said.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterritt

by Spencer Sterritt

Family reacts after murderer, kidnapper receives life sentence

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