Saskatchewan Penitentiary. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Trial proceedings

Not guilty pleas entered in 2016 penitentiary riot death

Sep 8, 2020 | 12:18 PM

Almost four years after a large riot at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, two men charged with murder are pleading their innocence.

Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench, Landon McKay and Brandon Burns formally entered not guilty pleas to charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

In December, 2016, Jason Leonard Bird was located unresponsive in the medium security section of the penitentiary after the prison’s emergency response team entered the unit to quell the riot.

In addition to Bird’s death, the riot saw eight inmates injured. Two were allegedly injured during the riot, which involved more than 180 inmates, and six more were hurt by shotgun fire when prison staff stormed the rioters’ improvised barricades.

Speaking to paNOW shortly after the riot, Guards’ Union Spokesperson James Bloomfield described the injuries inflicted by the rioters as “multiple, multiple stab wounds.”

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Three other men were sentenced in relation to Bird’s death. Sundance Okeymasim entered a guilty plea to a charge of aggravated assault and received a two-year sentence. Klaine Campeau received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in the attack, and Kelfert Watech received a 10-year sentence to convictions of attempted murder and second-degree murder. Two weeks have been set aside for the trial of Burns and McKay.

During his opening marks, Justice B.J. Scherman instructed lawyers that he would like witnesses not to wear masks so he could see their faces. Scherman also made it clear that he personally will not wear a mask.

“I feel like I’m sufficiently distanced,” he said.

A number of social distancing and health protocols have also been instituted for the trial which marks the first of its kind in months.

Burns was instructed to sit in the prisoner box behind a wall of plexi-glass, while McKay was about 10 feet away in the area normally reserved for the jury.

Cleaning staff remain on stand-by to wipe down chairs. Individuals in the gallery must abide by social distancing requirements, but have the option whether to wear a mask.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell