(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Teen to serve 3-year sentence for death of mother’s boyfriend

Jan 14, 2025 | 5:00 PM

A 15-year-old boy responsible for the death of his mother’s boyfriend, was upset after being told he could not sleep in the bedroom where his mom was, as opposed to the living room where the babies were who kept him awake.

That was among the facts hear during a sentencing hearing Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, received a three-year sentence for manslaughter. When broken down, it works out to nine months closed custody at a secure facility, followed by nine months of open custody and then 18 months of community supervision.

To help protect the identities of the youth and the victims, paNOW has chosen not to name the remote northern community where the crime was committed.

On Aug. 22, 2023, RCMP were called to a home in the community for a report of a man suffering from serious injuries. He was taken to a local clinic and later succumbed to his injuries.

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According to facts read by Crown Prosecutor Lorretta Markowski, there had been an argument between the boy and the man over sleeping arrangements. Angry after being told he could not sleep with his mom, the boy, using an overhand motion, threw a knife at the man, striking him in the chest.

The man stumbled to the home’s hallway where he collapsed.

The knife, which was never recovered, was described as having a four-inch blade. The youth’s lawyer Chris Gratton described the incident as “short-lived” and one the boy “deeply regrets.”

Initially charged with second degree murder, the boy entered a guilty plea last year to the lesser offence and a pre-sentence report was ordered.

Details of that report were read in court and included the fact the youth’s father died a month prior to the incident and the youth struggling with that loss. He often went out alone and consumed marijuana to deal with his pain.

Noting the violence that occurred in home community, the youth told the report’s author he carried the knife for protection.

While the teenage boy sat alone in the prisoner’s box, noticeably absent from the gallery were any members of his family. His lawyer did confirm they were aware what was happening. There were no victim impact statements provided.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, guilty pleas were also entered to a number of breach related offences and to which he received 30 hours of community service work.

One of those breaches occurred as a result of attempting to go see his new baby sister, but was under a 24 hour curfew and a no contact order with his mother.

Another breach occurred a year later when the boy, after learning he was going to soon become a father, avoided coming to court so be present for the birth of his child.

Prior to accepting the joint submission, Judge Steve Schiefner noted the fact the boy felt the need to carry a knife for protection was in itself a Gladue factor. Schiefner also noted recent public statements made by community leaders regarding the violence occurring.

“I’m mindful of the fact that those cries for help are a part of the sentence being imposed today,” he said.

Further offering his own condolences to the victim’s family and to the boy’s family, Schiefner said the case has been traumatizing for a number of people including the boy.

“And he will be dealing with that trauma for a very long time,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell