By Taylor MacPherson

Napope murder case still not closed

May 26, 2017 | 5:00 PM

One of the men accused in the slaying of Troy Napope has pleaded guilty to murder, but another man is still awaiting his time in court.

The 23-year-old Napope was shot May 28, 2015. His body was not discovered until the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team searched a slough west of the city in April of 2016, near where his burned-out car had been found.

Skylar Patrick Bird, 30, and Braidy Chase Vermette, 28, were both charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death. Bird pleaded guilty to second-degree murder yesterday and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 10 years based on an agreement between his lawyer and the Crown.

John Morrall, the Crown lawyer who prosecuted the case, said the killing was “a callous, cowardly and evil act.” Bird – and allegedly Vermette – shot Napope at point-blank range before leaving him to die in the slough. Although Bird was initially charged with first-degree murder, Morrall said he was satisfied with the second-degree conviction because the evidence did not show Bird planned the killing.

“Given there was no evidence of planning in terms of the actual event itself, and that this accused was more of a party to the whole set of circumstances, we felt it was an appropriate plea,” Morrall told paNOW. “At this present time we are still looking at first-degree with respect to Briady Vermette.”

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Although both first and second-degree murder carry automatic life sentences in Canada, a conviction for first-degree murder means the offender is not eligible for parole for 25 years. Bird will be up for parole in 2027.

At Bird’s sentencing, the court made a recommendation he serve his sentence at an out-of-province facility due to personal safety concerns. Morrall said the request was uncommon, but not unexpected in a case involving alleged gang members. Vermette is currently held at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, which Morrall said also contributed to the recommendation.

“It was a gang-involved shooting. Bird was actually at the time a member of what was called the Tax Set, which was an offshoot of Terror Squad,” Morrall said. “Obviously there are many different gangs within the penitentiary, and they’re always concerned about making sure certain gangs don’t mix with others.”

Bird has shown the potential for violence while incarcerated. At his sentencing hearing he pleaded guilty to possessing a concealed weapon for a dangerous purpose after staff found him to have a knife inside the Prince Albert Correctional Centre last month. He was sentenced to six months in custody on the weapons charges which he will serve at the same time as his life sentence.

Prince Albert defence lawyer Garth Bendig, who is handling Vermette’s case on behalf of Legal Aid, said he was not prepared to be interviewed but confirmed Vermette’s preliminary inquiry will be held June 14 at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

The charges against Vermette have not yet been tested before the courts.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews