Second arrest made in Whitehorse homicide investigation
A 17-year-old person has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of 35-year-old Aaron Smarch on Feb. 2.
A 17-year-old person has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of 35-year-old Aaron Smarch on Feb. 2.
This is the second person to be charged in connection with Smarch’s death, Whitehorse RCMP said Monday afternoon.
Norman Kendi, 18, has also been charged with first-degree murder. He was arrested the night of Feb. 6.
Smarch was found near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Ogilvie Street early on Feb. 2.
Under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act, the minor’s name cannot be published. Police did not specify the person’s gender.
The accused made a first court appearance last Thursday. The investigation is ongoing.
The RCMP continue to ask that anyone with information about the incident contact the Major Crime Unit at 667-5551.
“The Yukon RCMP continues to share our condolences with the family and friends of Aaron Smarch, and appreciate the engagement from those who have assisted in this investigation,” police said.
Smarch’s death was the Yukon’s first homicide of 2023.
Comments (16)
Up 7 Down 1
Where did Josey Wales go? on Feb 19, 2023 at 10:37 pm
LOL - There has been a 15-16 year gap in his record. It’s a common refrain in mitigating sentences… The absence of evidence is not proof of its absence. Living up here you see it, you know it, and often so do the judges. There are many individuals who commit ongoing crimes and everybody knows but because there is not sufficient evidence to formalize charges they are often regarded by the courts as having been good for such and such a timeframe - They get credit for good behaviour even though they have been dealing drugs, enforcing drug debt repayment, or committing domestic violence.
Somebody give the Legal community another award and throw some praise to the Judiciary - How about Best Judgey of the Month Club. For example, the Judge with the highest remand credit score for the month gets the golden gavel for the month and a coupon to use at their next training on, How to Create Judicial Fiction Like Reality Does Not Matter, or Reality Defying Judgement in the Advancement of Liberal Authoritarianism.
All training will be delivered at the Trudeau Centre for Anti-Realism Studies where chaos is scientifically engineered through the press of an authoritarian whimsy. All participants will be provided with Trudeau wigs, Trudeau approved socks, and a reflecting pool in which all attendees will be required to meditate on their own self-image.
Up 12 Down 5
Sour D’oh on Feb 17, 2023 at 5:19 pm
@Apex
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Up 6 Down 14
Bad System on Feb 17, 2023 at 10:36 am
At Carcross Desert incident 16 years ago when he was 19, never another charge on Feb 15, 2023 at 11:55 pm:
Given the current embrace of racialized injustice and the judicial activists on the benches it would be very unwise to use a criminal record as any indicator of behaviour. To understand someone you need to know what their actual behaviour is and why that behaviour occurs along with the individual beliefs about why they do their behaviour.
Up 26 Down 17
Apex Parasite on Feb 16, 2023 at 9:58 am
To those who posted the links and to moose 101....again, what are your points? What is the purpose of spotlighting that Aaron was in trouble in his past, when he himself was roughly the same age as those who allegedly killed him?
Is it your aim to illustrate that he got what he deserved in the end? I ask again, what is your point? It seems cryptically passive aggressive. Kind of a let those without sin cast the first stone sort of thing...
If we all got what we deserved for all the things we have done in our past none of us would be here to discuss the matter
Up 26 Down 27
Carcross Desert incident 16 years ago when he was 19, never another charge on Feb 15, 2023 at 11:55 pm
I HAD googled Aaron's name and thought, "Oh. Bad guy." A friend of mine however said that he played on a hockey team and another sport league, and seemed like a decent guy. Look at the date of the incident in the Desert that you vultures are bandying around. May 2007. 16 years ago, when he was 19 years old. And he was sentenced to a year in jail.
I found no subsequent charges against him, ever again. Put a cork in it.
Up 15 Down 23
bonanzajoe on Feb 15, 2023 at 7:27 pm
@Smarch information on Feb 15, 2023 at 11:01 am.
Sometimes, justice comes in strange ways.
Up 29 Down 11
TMYK on Feb 15, 2023 at 12:35 pm
https://www.yukoncourts.ca/sites/default/files/documents/en/r_v_smarch_2008_yktc_34.pdf
The facts are straightforward and not in contention. On the long weekend of May 2007, two couples from Whitehorse headed out to the Carcross desert, one of the most awesome and picturesque settings in this Territory, to rest and relax and enjoy the camping experience. What had the potential to be an uplifting experience of the great outdoors at its best, with tranquility, peacefulness and outstanding scenery, turned into a living nightmare of horrific proportions, which will never be forgotten by the four victims. It all started very well.
[5] After tents were set up, the party of four met with the offender and his group, who were, amongst other things, running their dirt bikes through the desert sand. On the Sunday night, all enjoyed a campfire together; alcohol was consumed. After midnight, the group separated.
[6] Thereafter, the offender and his friends returned to the campsite of the victims, aggressively demanding beer. In a very unruly and uncivilized manner, the offender jumped on top of their cooler, ate some of the potato chips and spat them out. During this first totally unprovoked confrontation, the offender punched Adrian Neill and broke his nose. During this rather one-sided struggle, a hooded sweater was torn. The offender and his company left, only to return a second time.
[7] On this occasion, having already violently assaulted Adrian Neill by breaking his nose, the offender not only demanded beer but also $70 for the damaged attire. A
hurting and disadvantaged Adrian Neill turned over $50 to the offender but no beer. For this, the victim received a severe punch in the face from the offender, which caused his jaw to break. The offender left again. As if this were not enough, the offender and his company returned for a third major confrontation demanding more money. Obviously dominated by feelings of fear and horror, Sarah Neill turned over $20 to the offender. By this time, the party of four had already partially prepared for a premature departure from what was to have been an idyllic long weekend.
The offender and another assailant pushed Adam Anderson to the ground, kicking him while he was down, rupturing his eardrum. After the assailants left, the victims proceeded to the local nursing station and then headed for further necessary treatment at the Whitehorse Hospital.
[9] The RCMP, during that early morning, went to the desert and the young men fled into the darkness. Later that day, the police arrested the offender, who did give a statement. While the four victims are Caucasian and the offender and his cohorts were Aboriginal, there is no evidence that these heinous crimes were racially motivated.
Up 14 Down 10
Smarch information on Feb 15, 2023 at 11:01 am
https://www.yukon-news.com/news/campers-assaulted-in-carcross-desert/
https://yukoncourts.cms-uat.yukon.ca/sites/default/files/documents/fr/r_v_smarch_2008_yktc_34.pdf
Up 10 Down 6
Apex Parasite on Feb 15, 2023 at 8:57 am
@moose101
seriously....if you have a point make it...
Up 27 Down 9
Mark on Feb 14, 2023 at 8:20 pm
My condolences to the Smarch family, and my concern for the two young men and those around these people that are heart broken.
Up 11 Down 6
bonanzajoe on Feb 14, 2023 at 8:15 pm
@Politico on Feb 14, 2023 at 4:13 pm:
Ever hear of "cause and effect".
Up 23 Down 5
bonanzajoe on Feb 14, 2023 at 8:13 pm
@Juniper Jackson on Feb 14, 2023 at 3:35 pm:
He's 17 - a minor. He won't see the inside of a prison. You will meet him on the street very soon. And then, again and again in the future news.
Up 18 Down 3
bonanzajoe on Feb 14, 2023 at 8:10 pm
Age 17? Well, thats guaranteed walk. Maybe his community will give him a needed thrashing after the trial. But don't count on that. More likely a hypothetical medal of valor.
Up 33 Down 8
Moose101 on Feb 14, 2023 at 4:17 pm
As I said before google Aarons name.
Up 14 Down 44
Politico on Feb 14, 2023 at 4:13 pm
Juniper, you haven't been following the news for the 40 yrs have you. Just read the comment section of the WS and you'll know where all the hate is coming from!
Up 54 Down 8
Juniper Jackson on Feb 14, 2023 at 3:35 pm
So young..So many here now, don't know of our 'yesterdays'. The streets were mud, the boardwalks seemed a mile high..Everyone dropped into the Capital, or the Whitehorse Inn to visit with friends and neighbors. My neighbors came in to do the laundry, cook meals, counsel me on my first child. Never a door locked. Everything in a vehicle was safe. It all changed so slow, it seems like one minute you were stopped at one of our 2 stoplights to visit a moment, and the next minute there is a body, a murder on Main St. And not by a jealous husband. A youngster with his entire life ahead of him. Who will he be when he comes out of prison? Even with Gladue, the court can not let a murderer on the streets. 17.. what has happened to us?