A sentencing hearing began Thursday for a man who pleaded guilty in connection with the death of Wilfred “Dickie” Charlie.

Mario Reuben Skookum was initially charged with first-degree murder in connection to the 2017 death of Charlie. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year.

Skookum stands charged alongside his brother, Tyler Skookum, in the death of Charlie, 57, in Carmacks.

Charlie was reported missing on June 19, 2017. His body was found July 5 of that year in the Yukon River around Fort Selkirk.

The autopsy revealed the death was a homicide.

There’s a publication ban on the agreed statement of facts until all those who stand accused in relation to the case have been sentenced.

Victim impact statements were read on Thursday morning.

They described Charlie as a keeper of traditional knowledge, with his death causing rifts and fear in the community.

The Crown made recommendations for sentencing on Thursday afternoon.

Crown prosecutor Lauren Whyte recommended a jail term of five years. Skookum has already served about 2 1/2 years since 2017, leaving another 2 1/2 years remaining.

Whyte also recommended a 10-year weapons order and a lifetime ban on restricted weapons.

If a probation order is imposed, Whyte said, the Crown would seek a curfew condition, abstain and no-contact orders for those who submitted victim impact statements.

Whyte also recommended a condition requiring Skookum to inform the RCMP before visiting Carmacks, if he’s not living in the community.

The victim impact statements revealed that some community members feared seeing Skookum in town.

The order is not intended to penalize Skookum, but give sufficient notice to residents, Whyte said.

Skookum also pleaded guilty to breaching his probation. The Crown is seeking 30 days of custody served concurrently for the breach.

Whyte noted that Skookum, who was 25 at the time of his arrest in 2017, is a relatively young man. She said the Crown is hopeful that rehabilitation will be possible.

Skookum has been previously charged with assault and sexual assault.

His criminal history appears to be linked to substance abuse, Whyte said.

Whyte presented several mitigating and aggravating factors that contributed to the sentencing recommendation of five years.

Skookum’s guilty plea indicates an acceptance of responsibility, Whyte said. He also has shown remorse for his actions. These are both mitigating factors.

The Crown also considered the impact of colonialism and systemic racism on Skookum’s life.

“There is no question in the Crown’s mind these factors have touched Mr. Skookum’s life negatively,” Whyte said.

Without these factors, the Crown would likely have recommended a sentence closer to six years, Whyte said.

Skookum has also participated in rehabilitation programming while in custody, including Alcoholics Anonymous and counselling.

The Crown noted this as the final mitigating factor.

The Crown also presented several aggravating factors. 

The location of the crime is one of these, Whyte said.

“The fact that the death or the killing took place in Mr. Charlie’s own home, which should be a place of safety and sanctuary, is aggravating,” Whyte said.

Skookum also made no effort to provide Charlie with medical assistance, court was told. 

The final mitigating factor was Skookum’s criminal record, which Whyte called “concerning” from a risk assessment standpoint.

Skookum’s pre-sentence report said that he is a moderate risk for future violence, closely linked to substance abuse and his peer associations.

Whyte recommended a three-year probation period requiring that Skookum abstain from substances for its entirety.

Bibhas Vaze, the lawyer representing Skookum, then made submissions.

Vaze said Skookum didn’t intend bodily harm to Charlie, and that should be considered in his sentencing.

“The push to hold somebody responsible always has to be tempered by the push to have the right person held responsible,” Vaze said.

He said he doesn’t see a basis on which to sentence Skookum to five years.

He said the Crown failed to disclose its “star witness” against Skookum. He called this a “serious” breach that the Crown then failed to take responsibility for.

Skookum was forced to consider going to trial on a first-degree murder charge and possibly face a life sentence with the new information that the Crown provided late, Vaze said.

This put Skookum in an “impossible position,” the lawyer said.

Vaze was expected to continue his submission this morning.

Yukon Supreme Court Justice Edith Campbell is presiding over the sentencing hearing.