By Kathy Gallant

La Loche shooter: Sentencing delayed, no final date set

Sep 1, 2017 | 2:22 PM

The court case of a La Loche teen who shot 11 people in January 2016, killing four and injuring seven is now adjourned until Monday, Sept. 11, when Judge Janet McIvor will fix a final date for sentencing. 

The teen shooter’s case was further delayed this morning after court heard Crown prosecutor Lloyd Stang was appointed a provincial court judge and could not conclude the case. Prior to the recent development, the defence was preparing to use today’s court session to examine new evidence of the youth’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. The youth cannot be identified due to provisions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. 

Crown prosecutor Pouria Tabrizi-Reardigan assisted Stang with the case thus far, and said the Crown is committed to sorting out dates as soon as possible.

“I have in mind the victims, the family and the community of La Loche,” he said after court this morning. “It’s very important that every single stage of this case is prepared as well as possible and that requires time.”

He said the decision of who will take over as the lead prosecutor is still in progress, and should be finalized in the coming weeks.

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After two weeks of emotional sentencing hearings in May and June, final arguments in the case were originally set for last Friday, Aug. 25. 

McIvor told the court she felt she must apologize for the delays, as Stang’s new appointment is an exceptional circumstance.

Outside the courthouse, La Loche Mayor Robert. St. Pierre expressed disappointment with the news of further delays.

“As the community, and as the mayor of La Loche, we really want to get to that next step and be able to start our healing journey,” he said. “It’s hard on the community. As we get further to the fall towards Christmas and then we’re back in January, so we’re that much closer to the anniversary date, so the anxieties are percolating again.”

He said he has been talking to people, organization, community members, and family members about how they feel about the judge’s final decision potentially taking place in La Loche.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath