A picture taken of Charles Charles, just after being sentenced at Court of King's Bench in Prince Albert. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Nearing conclusion

Accused in La Ronge woman’s death receives eight-year sentence for manslaughter

Jun 21, 2024 | 2:03 PM

One of multiple people charged in the death of a La Ronge woman, and the second to be dealt with in the courts, has received an eight-year sentence.

Charlie Charles appeared Friday morning at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert. A guilty was entered to a charge of manslaughter, which cancelled out the original plans for Charles to be tried by judge and jury.

With credit for time spent in pre-sentence custody, the 29-year-old has roughly a year and four months left left to serve. An order was also made that prohibits him for life from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives.

Just two days before Christmas 2019, Sheena Marie Billette’s lifeless body was found along a highway, just north of La Ronge. She was a mother of four young children.

Due to a publication ban in place for a trial that still needs to run for two other co-accused, none of the evidence provided on Friday can be released including cause of death or how Billette’s body came to be found on the highway.

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Deborah McKenzie and Sharise Sutherland-Kayseas are currently awaiting a verdict. A hearing date is scheduled for Aug. 19. Their trial itself commenced on Jan. 22 and involved dozens of witnesses.

Also charged in the case was Telsa McKenzie, who after entering a guilty plea to manslaughter, received a sentence of four and a half years.

Sheena’s father Willie Billlette stands with Buffalo River Dene Nation Chief Norma Catarat. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

In attendance Friday were half a dozen members of Billette’s family and friends, including her father who has been present for every court hearing and sat in the front row. Prior to reading a very emotional victim statement, Willie Billette made a gesture towards Charles, to pay attention.

“It was important for me to be here and to look at and directly talk to him,” he said.

Billette also acknowledged Charles’s days in custody are numbered.

“Sometimes I wonder if that’s enough time for the brutal crime they committed and any kind of sentence regarding this case will never be enough,” he said.

Also present in court was Buffalo River Dene Nation Chief Norma Catarat who explained it was very important for her to attend and support the family.

“Sheena was a part of our community and we valued her in the community,” she said.

Chief Catarat also noted the impact on a small community with the loss of a young person, especially by way of violence.

“This is heart wrenching when you think about it because she’ll never see her kids graduate, she’ll never see her kids get married, she’s not gonna see any of her grandkids. The rippling effect of what happened that day is going to go on forever,” she explained.

Noting the high profile of the case, the impact on the northern community, and the less than half dozen people present in court, Crown Prosecutor Shaun Blackman attributed the absence of leadership and elders to the fact the hearing coincided with National Indigenous Peoples Day.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell