A young offender convicted in the manslaughter of Simon Grant (pictured) will serve the remainder of his sentence at the federal penitentiary. (file photo)

By Teena Monteleone

Convicted killer will spend remainder of sentence in federal penitentiary; plans to appeal

Aug 12, 2019 | 2:13 PM

A young offender convicted in the killing of a La Ronge businessman will stay at a federal penitentiary for the remainder of his sentence.

The man, who was 17 years old at the time of the crime, was sentenced to a nine-year jail term for the deadly attack on Simon Grant in April 2017. Two years prior to his transfer to the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert in May, the youth was remanded at the Kilburn Hall detention facility in Saskatoon.

The youth cannot be named due to a court-ordered publication ban on his name — a provision under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

A placement report presented in provincial court recommended the man, who turns 20 in December, remain at the penitentiary. The Crown also made that recommendation.

“The report basically said that the availability of programming, protection of the public, rehabilitation, the parental views as well as the youth’s own views were all taken into account and that was just a few of the factors, for example, in considering whether he should continue on at the pen,” said Ruth Fafard, regional Crown prosecutor in La Ronge.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

20m ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

5h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

21h ago

The man’s defence lawyer, Jessie Buydens told paNOW her client has instructed her to appeal the sentence. Pending the outcome of that appeal, Buydens said he is content staying at the penitentiary.

“I think he was receiving better programming at Kilburn Hall. He had one-on-one time with a doctoral psychologist as well as the programming that they have in corrections, but at this point, he is now settled and has been at the penitentiary for two and a half months,” Buydens said. “He has done the intake process. So, if he went back to Kilburn he would have to do the intake processes there and potentially when he turns 20, return back to the penitentiary and do intake processes there again. So it’s not a matter of he prefers the penitentiary but he’s already been there for two and a half months and would rather not move back and forth.”

The man has five years and 10 months left behind bars, after credit for time served. During the sentencing in May, Judge Robert Lane stated the killing of Grant was reprehensible, unjustified and evil. He took a much lighter tone in court today acknowledging the man’s comments in the placement report that he wanted to move on with his sentence and didn’t want to be ‘treated like a kid anymore.’ Lane turned to the man in the prisoner’s box Monday morning.

“Self forgiveness is the key to recovery,” he said. “I truly wish you all the best.”

Lane told the court this case proved to be the most difficult decision he’s ever made. He also gave accolades to both Fafard and Buydens for their work on the case.

“I think the nature of the crime is difficult to deal with. It’s difficult to hear the facts and difficult to adjudicate,” Buydens said. “But also, this is a young person who had no criminal record prior to this. If it was a young person who had an escalating criminal history or a history of violence, it might make it easier to sentence them as an adult but this is a young person who had no prior history.”

Two others were previously convicted of manslaughter in the case. Austin Bird, who was 18 at the time of the attack, received a seven-year sentence. Another teen who was 14, is serving a youth sentence of three years.

—

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone