Byron Bear was shot and killed on Dec. 6, 2021. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Police Service)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Prince Albert manslaughter case nears completion after third sentencing hearing

Apr 11, 2025 | 5:15 PM

A man described as a follower and as a low risk to re-offend was visibly excited after learning he would be serving a manslaughter conviction at a jail rather than the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

With support from a family member, Raine Farrow appeared Friday at Prince Albert Provincial Court and received a two-year sentence for manslaughter and accessory after the fact. Guilty pleas were entered last January, and a pre-sentence report was ordered at that time.

In relation to the death of Byron Bear in late 2021, Farrow represents the second last of five men to be dealt with.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 6, 2021, he along with the four accused had all gathered at a Midtown area home and were expecting the arrival of some people who were coming to cause trouble over a drug debt.

Byron Bear and others arrived in a white car and soon after, Bear was observed on the home’s security camera smashing out the back window of Farrow’s car, which was parked in the driveway. Bear then proceeded to dump gasoline into the car.

Mind the potholes

Pothole repair underway in Prince Albert

19h ago

Crash near Muskoday bridge sends 35-year-old man to hospital

19h ago

Fresh coat of paint

Anti-Graffiti program returns Wednesday

20h ago

That’s when the men inside the house, having armed themselves with various guns, began firing shots from the back doorway of the home. Farrow was not among the armed men, and who had retreated to his downstairs bedroom, had first provided Riley Primeau with a handgun which he fired at a .45 degree angle into the air.

Both Kyle Burns and Daniel Oliver were armed with rifles, which they used to fire shots towards the driveway.

During this exchange of gunfire, Bear was shot in the head and collapsed to the ground.

After the suspect car drove away, Bear’s lifeless body was located behind Farrow’s car and then loaded into the trunk, but not before Farrow first kicked Bear multiple times to check for life.

With two passengers, Farrow drove the black Mercedes Benz to a secluded area near Rosthern and dumped the body near a bluff, roughly a couple hundred feet from the highway.

The trio then drove to Saskatoon and left Farrow’s car parked on the street. The car was later reported to and impounded by Saskatoon police, where they discovered a pool of blood in the trunk and a powerful smell of gasoline.

Bear was reported missing on Dec. 6, and it would be 63 days before his body was found. It was, in fact, Farrow who told police where to go, and his cooperation throughout the investigation was described as exemplary. For this act, Farrow was hugged by the victim’s mother at a previous hearing.

He also testified for the crown at both Daniel Oliver’s and Kyle Burns’s respective trials.

Arguments

The Crown was seeking a five-year prison sentence. While noting Farrow was not directly involved and his gun was not the one that ultimately shot Bear, Prosecutor Shawn Blackman noted the seriousness of cases where guns are involved and Farrow’s involvement in the disposal of the body.

In turn, defence lawyer Ron Piche, who was seeking a two-year community based sentence, noted that while Farrow had been on conditions and a curfew (since May 2022), there has not been one breach. Farrow has also held a steady job and has been providing for his son.

Farrow has no criminal history and his risk to re-offend was assessed as low.

While commending to Farrow’s behavior, and describing him as a good candidate for rehabilitation,Judge Rogers also noted the need to denounce gun related crimes which she stated have increased in Prince Albert.

“He is not without culpability,” she said.

What’s next

Also charged in the case is Daniel Oliver, whose trial wrapped up last November at Court of King’s Bench, and is a verdict is expected on May 15.

Jackson Henry, who disposed of the guns, was in court in February and received a 17 month sentence.

Riley Primeau was sentenced over a year ago and after entering a guilty plea to manslaughter received an eight-year prison term.

Kyle Burns was acquitted of second-degree murder and the lesser offence of manslaughter.

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell