By Charlene Tebbutt

Third man sentenced in connection with violent 2016 death

May 24, 2018 | 2:00 PM

The third man charged in connection to a 2016 shooting death was sentenced to five years this morning for manslaughter.

Preston Spencer Dean Bird was handed the sentence Thursday at Prince Albert’s Court of Queen’s Bench in connection with the death of Jonathan Lee Cowan in January of 2016. Bird, 23, was originally charged with second-degree murder in connection with Cowan’s death but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the end of a trial in March.

Bird was sentenced to five years in jail Thursday, but he will receive credit for the time he served since his arrest, leaving him with about 22 months behind bars. Bird was arrested in April of 2016 and has been held on remand since then while his case was before the court.

The five-year sentence was based on a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence. Bird was also ordered to submit a DNA sample to the national registry and he received a lifetime firearms ban along with a $200 surcharge.

Cowan, 23, was killed at his home in January of 2016. Bird and two other men, Tyler Thomas Pechawis and Reno Roy Keenatch, went to Cowan’s home intending to confront a different man who had accused one of them of stealing, the court heard. The details about what exactly happened next are not clear, the Crown said, but Cowan died after he was shot in the stomach with a shotgun.

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Crown Prosecutor Cynthia Alexander said there was no evidence suggesting Bird was aware of the gun when they went to the home, but she noted Bird “was present and was prepared to participate in the violence that was unfolding.”

Bird’s defence lawyer Patrick McDougall took issue with the pre-sentence report in court Thursday, saying it did not address Bird’s background and circumstances as an Indigenous offender. McDougall said Bird suffered from a traumatic childhood and witnessed significant family violence growing up. 

Bird spoke briefly at his sentencing hearing, saying he was sorry for what happened. He said he never had any intention to hurt Cowan.

Pechawis pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year in connection with Cowan’s death and was sentenced to just over eight years in prison. Keenatch also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 years.

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt