Richard Netmaker passed away in January, 2020. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

SENTENCED

Death of man near Big River First Nation results in 2.5-year sentence

Dec 22, 2023 | 2:00 PM

Nearly four years after Richard Netmaker was violently assaulted in his own home and later left for dead, another person held responsible has been sentenced.

Roderick Dreaver has received a sentence of 2.5 years. However, with credit time spent on remand, his sentence concluded on Dec. 14 when the case was discussed at Whitefish court.

Guilty pleas were entered to criminal negligence causing death, assault with a weapon and forcible confinement

On Jan. 6, 2020, Big River RCMP responded to a complaint that Richard Netmaker had been abducted from his residence on the Big River First Nation and assaulted. He was later found deceased in a rural area near Pekakumew Lake

According to the statement of facts read previously in court by Crown Prosecutor Gail Douglas, four people went to the house and assaulted Netmaker with bats and a machete. He was placed into a truck, with Morin behind the wheel, and driven approximately eight km.

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“Richard is spitting blood all over the truck,” Douglas explained, adding he was crying when he got out of the truck.

Karlyne Morin was arrested the next day for possession of a stolen vehicle, and while in police cells was overheard yelling “I hope Richard is dead.” Upon being further questioned, Morin told police where Netmaker had been left.

“If it hadn’t been for her submission [to police], we may still be looking for Mr. Netmaker,” Douglas said.

Through their investigation, police learned Netmaker walked two kilometres in freezing temperatures before succumbing to the elements. The nearest house was four kilometres away.

An autopsy report also showed Netmaker had a fractured rib and no defensive-type wounds.

While the specific reason for the assault remains unclear there was a suggestion in court that Morin had at one time been sexually assaulted by Netmaker. Roderick Dreaver had been Morin’s boyfriend at the time of the assault.

In addition to the prison sentence, Dreaver is prohibited for life from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives.

For her part, Morin pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death, and was also sentenced to 2.5 years, but given 204 days credit for time in remand waiting trial along with a 10-year weapons ban.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell