Photo by Photo Submitted
MAN WENT MISSING – The body of Christopher Brisson (above) was found near Miles Canyon on Sept. 1, 2015. Photo courtesy FACEBOOK
Crown will not accept a manslaughter plea
A Whitehorse man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.
A Whitehorse man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.
Darryl Sheepway appeared in Yukon Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon by video from the Whitehorse Correctional Centre as defence lawyer Lynn MacDiarmid made the plea.
She said Sheepway is “prepared to take responsibility and plead guilty to manslaughter.”
But the Crown will not accept a plea to a lesser charge.
A date has yet to be set for a judge and jury trial in the case.
Sheepway was charged in August 2016 in relation to the death of Christopher Brisson, whose body was found near Miles Canyon on Sept. 1, 2015.
At the time, the 25-year-old had been missing for three days.
MacDiarmid said there may be a delay in the trial. The defence is seeking an expert opinion on Sheepway’s state of mind at the time of the crime pursuant to a defence of intoxication.
Under Canadian law, intoxication is not technically a defence to criminal charges but in some cases may be relevant to a person’s state of mind or capacity to have specific intent.
But Crown lawyer Leo Lane noted that, “The family of Mr. Brisson are quite frustrated with the delay so far.”
Sheepway will appear in court again next Tuesday to set a date for a judge and jury trial.
Justice Ron Veale noted, “A trial date needs to be set and set quickly.”
Sheepway is also facing 10 unrelated charges of robbery from Ontario which have been waived to the Yukon.
He made his first appearance on these charges in territorial court this morning.
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Comments (7)
Up 2 Down 1
B. on Apr 5, 2017 at 10:55 am
I'm just curious, why would you go visit a drug dealer, if you ARE already intoxicated? That just doesn't makes sense to me.
And if so, when you take drugs, you stop being responsible for your behavior? Hm, that would suit me... "hey boss, I can't come to work, I smoked some pot, you know, and now I'm not able to work. But it's the pot's fault!"
Funny, until you kill somebody and ruin lives of two families.
Up 10 Down 0
moe on Apr 3, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Nice try Darrel, but it looks like you only get off on manslaughter if you choke your ex-wife to death and tie a pillow case around her neck to make sure she doesn't revive, and then almost kill a propane truck driver. Oh, and it helps if you've been stalking her across the country too. (Ralph Klassen, manslaughter)
Darrel should have gone for the 'provocation defense', like Ralph did. She made him do it! Don't ya know.
http://www.whitehorsestar.com/History/klassen-gets-five-years-for-manslaughter
Darrel's mistake was to be a drug addict who killed a former drug dealer (who went back to prison twice because he hadn't actually stopped dealing drugs like he said he had.) I guess his lawyer didn't tell him to make up a story that he was 'provoked'.
I'd like to hear what actually went down that night on the Miles Canyon Road. We'll never know the whole story because drug addicts who murder people don't generally tell the side of the person killed.
Up 10 Down 11
Bias much on Mar 31, 2017 at 8:53 am
@Nile If he is FN then yes, a Gladue report will be submitted. If you know what a Gladue report is that surely to god you know that otherwise your post has only one other meaning.
Up 19 Down 10
Nile on Mar 30, 2017 at 2:05 pm
Wonder if he will get a Gladue report.
Up 43 Down 4
Just Say'in on Mar 30, 2017 at 1:14 pm
So why in the heck would being impaired be an excuse. How in heavens name can you be convicted of impaired driving then? Sorry officer I was too drunk to make a good choice. What the H@LL is wrong with our Justice oops sorry Legal System?
Up 43 Down 8
J. Adams on Mar 29, 2017 at 7:32 pm
I would like to know what lawyer, in consciousness would defend and try to lessen charges of killing someone? Drunk, drugged or not . . there is no excuse for a bad gene pool. Eye for an eye . . .
Up 40 Down 4
jc on Mar 29, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Intoxication is not technically a defense to criminal charges? Well, the judges sure use it as an excuse enough times. I don't think it should be allowed as a defense or a consideration at all.