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Lawyers to argue on sentencing for La Loche shooter next year

Oct 28, 2016 | 4:27 PM

Following the first in-person appearance for the suspect in the La Loche shootings, Crown and defence attorneys commented on the case thus far.

The suspect pleaded guilty today, Oct. 28 to seven counts of attempted murder, two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of Adam Wood and Marie Janvier and two counts of second degree murder in the deaths of Dayne and Drayden Fontaine.

After the teen’s guilty plea, Crown lawyer Lloyd Stang reiterated his intention to have the killer sentenced as an adult.

“Early in the proceedings I gave notice to the court and the young person’s lawyer that we would be seeking to sentence him as an adult,” Stang said outside of court. “I confirmed that intention today and the court has scheduled a hearing to determine whether he’ll be sentenced as an adult or a youth.”

The defence will be arguing against Crown’s position during a sentencing hearing next year.

The hearings are scheduled for May 15 to 19 and June 12 to 16 in La Loche.

During the court proceeding, Judge Janet McIvor said the charges were very tragic for everyone involved and it’s important to have the hearings in La Loche, the community the tragic events took place in.

“I agree it’s important for cases like this that the matters are being dealt with in the community where the incidents arise,” Stang added. “It’ll be important for the community to be there and see the justice process unfolding.”

The youth’s two first degree murder charges relating to the deaths of the two Fontaine brothers were amended to second degree murder before the youth’s plea. Stang said there were a variety of factors which went into accepting the amendment.

“It’s our view it was appropriate to do so… we consider again a variety of factors and it comes down to usually questions of evidence as it did in this case, which I’m not prepared to get into details and questions of public interest,” he said. “We certainly think the evidence supports the decision in the pleas entered today as well, we believed it was in the public interest for these pleas to go in as they did today.”

The 12th charge against the suspect, relating to weapons, was stayed. Stang again said he’s not prepared to get into details of why it was stayed but added the information should come out during the sentencing hearing.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Aaron Fox didn’t have much to say.

“I can tell you when you’re dealing with an application to sentence a youth as an adult, you’re looking at the questions of moral, recognizing you’re dealing with a young person but there’s a whole bunch of other factors which come into play,” Fox said outside of court.

He explained the lack of a criminal record, lack of previous involvement with the law, any sort of potential mental disability, or any level of cognitive or social development are factors Fox said will be considered in the hearings.

During the appearance, the suspect was distant and seemed to not be paying much attention. He was constantly fidgeting and at one time tried to do the Star Trek ‘spock’ wave to himself. Occasionally he would look up and glance at the crowd, judge and attorneys before fidgeting again.

The suspect’s next appearance is set for a Jan. 31 pre-sentencing hearing where he will appear via video. The suspect was remanded into custody and is being transferred back to Kilburn Hall in Saskatoon.

Judge McIvor ordered a psychological and psychiatric test with results expected at the Jan. 31 appearance.

 

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.