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Cases against inmates charged in penitentiary riot set back to August

Jul 11, 2018 | 4:36 PM

Four of five inmates charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with a riot at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in 2016 had their cases back in court Wednesday.

Brandon Burns, 23, Klaine Campeau, 25, Landon McKay, 21, and Kelftert Watetch, 26, all appeared by video in Prince Albert Provincial Court Wednesday. The men are each charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. Their cases were set back to August 8.

A fifth man, Sundance Okemaysim, 27, is also charged in connection with the case, but did not appear Wednesday.

The men are charged in relation to the death of 43-year-old Jason Leonard Bird, who was found to be unresponsive in the medium-security unit of the penitentiary following a riot at the institution December 14, 2016. Eight other inmates were also injured in the riot, which involved more than 180 inmates.