Walker Smith has been on remand since November 12 , 2023. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Smith murder trial cancelled, guilty plea to manslaughter

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A scheduled two-week murder trial in Prince Albert will not be proceeding as the accused has instead entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Walker John Smith, 31, appeared Monday morning at Court of King’s Bench. To allow time for the collection of victim impact statements, sentencing has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2023, Waskesiu/Montreal Lake RCMP received a request to help EMS at a residence on Montreal Lake Cree Nation.

Kevin Stewart, 41, was declared deceased at the scene.

According to the agreed statement of facts read by Crown Prosecutor Anthony Gerein, Smith and Stewart had been drinking together and had earlier that morning gone for an hour long drive. Smith had recently been released from jail.

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Upon returning to the house where they had been drinking, and Stewart lived with his girlfriend and young child, Stewart and his girlfriend engaged in a physical argument. Also in the house were a number of her other family members including two other children.

The couple was arguing outside the house. Stewart, who had one point attempted to slap his girlfriend and largely missed, grazing her head instead, walked away and headed for the road.

Smith, who was related to Stewart’s girlfriend, emerged from the bathroom, picked up a kitchen knife and pursued Stewart.

“Mr. Smith told (the girlfriend’s brother) he was going to calm Kevin down,” Gerein read.

Upon reaching Stewart, Smith asked for a hug and when he got close enough, stabbed Stewart twice in the chest.

Stewart retreated further down the road and Smith followed.

“Mr. Smith stabbed at him twice more – once before and once after Mr. Stewart had fallen backward.”

Smith then made his way back to the house, gave the knife to a woman, and stated he would be taking his cousin and her children with him and then burn the house down.

“He was holding a lighter at the time.”

Around 3a.m. on Nov. 12, Stewart’s girlfriend called RCMP and they arrested Smith as he was attempting to leave in his own vehicle.

In addition to alcohol, Smith also admitted to consuming meth.

“The effect of it left him with only partial memory of the events,” Gerein read.

Also in the courtroom were members of Smith’s family whom he hugged before being escorted from the courthouse and back to the Prince Albert Correctional Centre.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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