Photo by Stephanie Waddell
CALLING FOR JUSTICE – Demonstrators outside the Whitehorse courthouse early this afternoon were clear in their call for ‘justice for Brandy’ a day ahead of the sentencing of a 16-year-old youth in the 2014 manslaughter of 17-year-old Brandy Vittrekwa.
A day ahead of a 16-year-old’s sentencing in the December 2014 manslaughter of 17-year-old Brandy Vittrekwa, demonstrators are calling for justice.
A day ahead of a 16-year-old’s sentencing in the December 2014 manslaughter of 17-year-old Brandy Vittrekwa, demonstrators are calling for justice.
A group of about 25 people, including many from Vittrekwa’s family, gathered outside the Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre over the noon hour today.
It was an effort to bring “justice for Brandy,” said her grandmother, Mary Jane Moses, who has travelled here from Old Crow to attend Thursday’s sentencing.
The 16-year-old male has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Vittrekwa’s death.
At a sentencing hearing last week, the Crown applied to have the teenager sentenced as an adult for four to six years.
The defence is seeking the mandatory three-year sentence as a youth.
Moses said she and others who gathered this afternoon – some holding signs featuring pictures of Vittrekwa – wanted to make sure it is clear they want a fitting sentence for the crime.
A youth sentence would be too lenient, Moses said, tears in her eyes.
“We’re really looking for justice,” she said, as she noted and expressed her thanks for the number of supporters who had come out for the demonstration.
“It’s been really hard,” she said of the past year and a half for the family.
As Moses spoke, another supporter wrapped her arm around Moses and handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes.
Ruth Carroll was also at the event as she recalled an assault on her grandson.
When the issue came to court, it seemed there was extensive support for those who committed the assault, but nothing for the victim or her family.
“(Victims) get nothing,” she said, noting in small communities, victims are often forced to encounter their attackers after they are released from a sentence and there is nothing to prevent that.
She said she is tired of seeing that kind of situation repeat itself.
“It’s making me pretty sick,” she said.
As Moses and Carroll spoke, other supporters continued to hoist their signs and encourage drivers passing by to show their support by honking.
Many horns were heard as vehicles moved along that portion of Second Avenue.
The sentence is scheduled to be handed down at 2 p.m. Thursday.
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (11)
Up 7 Down 0
Groucho d'North on Jun 20, 2016 at 4:44 pm
A legal system that considers: Heritage, family residential school history, individual challenges and or drug and alcohol problems verses appropriate punishments for crimes committed. Careful what you wish for.
Young Miss Vittrekwa`s killer is a product of the present legal system, and the system is not accountable, nor are the people who operate it, so too the various advisory boards and social architects who tinker with the system to make it better for somebody because of those lobbying for special consideration. In this case, justice was denied for all involved,
Up 9 Down 1
Joey Manvilly on Jun 18, 2016 at 9:24 pm
As I understand it he had thoughts about Brandy dying despite his condition that night, so he knew he left Brandy in a very vulnerable position.
We all wish it did not happen and it seems many people are concerned that he was not treated by the court as an adult. Will he be a productive member of society after treatment over the next few years? Or will he re-offend in a violent way and severely hurt or kill another person?
Up 35 Down 3
north_of_60 on Jun 16, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Brandy and her family did not receive justice in the Yukon.
... but there were lots of excuses, as usual.
Stop mollycoddling your violent youth and make the punishment fit the crimes.
What would your traditional culture do with someone who beats a young woman to death with their fists and leaves her to die in the snow?
Up 32 Down 2
BULLHORNS!!! on Jun 16, 2016 at 6:42 pm
This is utterly BullHorns! This person KILLED a young woman, I don't care what his race or skin color is I don't care what his up bringing was like, he KILLED someone. He only gets 2 years. BULLHORNS!!!! You get caught with a ounce of pot and you get five years!!!
Up 14 Down 9
BnR on Jun 16, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Uh, all of you criticizing the judge, you do realize the judge gave the maximum sentence to the killer, right? 3 years was the maximum under law for a young offender and that's what he received less time served.
Want laws changed, lobby the law makers.
Up 19 Down 15
justice on Jun 16, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Missing and murdered inquiry will solve everything
Up 29 Down 3
Josey Wales on Jun 15, 2016 at 10:07 pm
I was at Brandy's service and I felt the pain in that room. Seen the void created by this "pos". heard some very strong language by the elders to the youth and community members. I felt compelled to be there making it clear as a member of our community that this is felt outside of the village.
To Brandy's family...I never knew her but I do know your pain.
Been near 30 years since another pos took out a member of my family.
I laugh from time to time even smile once in awhile, the scars?
They shaped me, as I'm always on guard and ready.
I will not forget the pain I felt amongst her friends and family...ever.
Nor will I forget Brandy and what her tragic loss did to "our" community.
Given a opportunity to stop such future actions, I will not hesitate that I assure you.
The pain however I think will flare up more, as I hold very, very little hope for a spore of justice. Folks here can think what they want of me, off my back as a duck. That said...
I very much care for the safety of our community and the citizens in it, all of them.
Less violent pos' s**t as he whom predate humans of course.
...most certainly will comment post sentencing.
Up 40 Down 3
jc on Jun 15, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Don't mean to be pessimistic but don't expect justice from our judges.
Up 35 Down 3
Just Say'in on Jun 15, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Thank heavens the First Nations are coming forward and saying this because the "Justice System" sorry "Legal System" is totally out of touch with reality. No one can believe the sentences coming from these judges. Harper tried to increase higher minimum sentences for crimes to drive sentencing but the P.C. police will have none of that.
Up 35 Down 2
Just Say'in on Jun 15, 2016 at 8:00 pm
There is a huge P.C. push to not incarcerate First Nations as it is not contributing to them being reformed. Well you must remember there are three reasons for incarceration. 1 The person sees the error in their ways and is reformed. 2 They have been deemed to have paid their debt to society. 3 They are incarcerated to protect the public from these people who will never be able to live in society. I think #3 applies in this case.
Up 47 Down 3
June Jackson on Jun 15, 2016 at 6:06 pm
They will not find justice for Brandy in the slap-on-the-wrist courts we have in the Yukon. The best they can hope for, or any of us, is that Karma will eventually get his sorry *ss.