Montreal Lake shooting suspect receives two-year jail sentence

A witness, who answered the door, said he heard yelling and a gunshot come from the basement where the alleged deal took place. Moments later the men were observed carrying the woman, later identified to be Trina Bird, out to a car in the yard.

During the incident, Corrigal fired another shot down into the basement, which hit the 16-year-old boy in the upper leg. The teen was taken to hospital and released nine days later.

After the shootings, the two men drove off in the black car toward Prince Albert. After a short pursuit, the car was found by police abandoned on Highway 2 north and the dying woman was still inside. Despite the officers’ best efforts to resuscitate Bird, she passed away soon after.

Trina Bird. (Facebook)

Both occupants attempted to flee on foot but Corrigal was eventually caught by police walking on a slough at a nearby property. Wesley Lachance, 42, was arrested in a car port. At the hearing Tuesday, Alexander confirmed Lachance is Corrigal’s father.

Alexander revealed to the court the victim in the case showed “no interest” in providing a victim impact statement. She also noted Corrigal had 34 prior convictions on his criminal record, and spent 451 days in remand since the incident.

Defence lawyer Peter Abrametz Jr. expressed his client’s remorse for his actions and his desire to turn his life around, which included completing his Grade 12 education and finding work in the trades.

The two-year jail sentence represented a joint submission from the Crown and the defence. Madam Justice Natasha Crooks accepted the submission adding she felt it represented the harm done.

Crooks also considered the pre-sentence report which reviewed Corrigal’s history extensively and focused on numerous factors which may have contributed to his behaviour, including poverty and a family breakdown.

“It must be a challenge to be in this dynamic with a parent,” she noted.

Justice Crooks also acknowledged Corrigal had a young son, and encouraged he use that relationship as a motivational tool to turn his life around.

In addition to his jail sentence, Corrigal must also abide by a 10-year weapons prohibition and will be on probation for one year following his release from custody. Corrigal was also encouraged to seek addictions treatment.

“I sincerely believe a person can change a life path when they make the effort,” Crooks said.

Outside the courthouse Abrametz reiterated his client’s remorse for his actions, and said the case as a whole represents a tragedy.

“It’s something that”s all too common right now and in Saskatchewan, it’s the story of poverty and addictions and violence. The hope is there can be rehabilitation and there can be a very positive future,” he said.

The co-accused, Lachance, who faces the same charges as his son, has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 6.

Jeremy Wade Charles’s possession of a weapon charge was stayed by the Crown after no evidence was provided to show if Charles was even at the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile who killed Trina Bird remains unknown. RCMP have confirmed the investigation is ongoing.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Montreal Lake shooting suspect receives two-year jail sentence

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