Erin Whitefish was sentenced Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Machete attack inside grocery store results in jail sentence

Jul 13, 2022 | 2:14 PM

A woman responsible for a violent incident inside a Canwood grocery store last April, in which a machete was used and death threats were made toward staff, was told by a judge to stop making excuses for the path she chose.

Erin Whitefish, 32, a member of the Big River First Nation, but who has spent more time living in Prince Albert, received a 10-month jail sentence and two years probation after entering guilty pleas related to two counts of assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

The case itself dates back to the morning of April 6th, when several people entered a grocery store in Canwood. A man, who had come into the store with a large gash on his head, was asked by store employees to leave. The man had also refused offers of help.

Whitefish had also come in the store and paid for a few items. As Crown lawyer Gail Douglas explained, everything seemed to be going smoothly until an argument started between Whitefish and the injured man in the interior of the store entrance. Whitefish then proceeded to pull a machete out from the sleeve of her sweater.

“You already hit me once today,” the man was overheard saying.

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Whitefish lifted the machete over her head and then struck the man with it in the legs. At this time, store employees, including the manager, intervened and after pinning Whitefish to the ground, managed to pull the sharp weapon away and stored it away in a safe location.

With her sweater hood pulled over her head to prevent spitting, Whitefish directed several threats toward the employees.

“She essentially said she’s gonna come back and get them,” Douglas said, adding everyone was very frightened.

Whitefish was also overheard saying she would kill their families and also claimed she would send gang members to their homes.

Defence lawyer Gordon Kirkby explained his client was intoxicated at the time on meth and was remorseful for her actions. He also said despite Whitefish’s claims, she had no gang involvement.

“It was the meth talking,” he said.

At this point, Judge Cardinal interrupted and said she doubted that. Whitefish was next offered the opportunity to speak and briefly apologized for her actions.

“That sounds kinda hollow,” Cardinal said.

Cardinal then went on to acknowledge the trauma caused to the store employees, and how fortunate it was that no one was seriously hurt. The man and one store employee were treated for cuts sustained from the machete.

“A machete seems to be a central figure lately and I think what’s been happening is that people think if they have a machete instead of a firearm, they won’t get such a long sentence. Well, I’m gonna put it out there right now, I’m tired of seeing people with weapons in our community,” Cardinal said.

The jail sentence represented a joint submission from the Crown and Defence. Judges have the option to overrule but it’s not common. Cardinal informed Whitefish that the sentence she was getting was a gift, but cautioned her that if she were to ever show her face in court again, she would be facing prison time.

While also acknowledging Whitefish’s addictions issue and troubled past, which included a violent home and being sexually assaulted, Cardinal told Whitefish these were not excuses for her actions.

“This is the path you are choosing. Don’t blame it on something else,” she said. “And it’s time that you grew up and decided where your life is going because otherwise you’re gonna have a lot of face time with judges and the next time you are going to a penitentiary,” she said.

With credit for time spent in remand, Whitefish has roughly 150 days left to serve. Upon release, she will be on probation for two years and carries a lifetime ban from owning or possessing any firearms, or explosives.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell