Youth being sentenced for manslaughter
The 16-year-old Whitehorse youth who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the December 2014 death of 17-year-old Brandy Vittrekwa is in court today for his sentencing hearing.
The 16-year-old Whitehorse youth who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the December 2014 death of 17-year-old Brandy Vittrekwa is in court today for his sentencing hearing.
As a young offender, nothing can be published that would lead to the identity of the teenager.
The Crown prosecutor’s office has applied to have the accused sentenced as an adult, though there’s been no decision yet by territorial court Judge Peter Chisolm.
In fact, a portion of the testimony this morning focused on whether the community would be better served if the accused was sentenced as a youth or an adult.
Dr. Anne Pleydon, the psychologist who conducted the assessment of the teenager, said she believed a sentence as a youth would provide a much greater chance for rehabilitation and reducing the likelihood of re-offending.
Sentences to adult facilities generally reduce access to one-on-one counselling and treatment, and can introduce youth to older and sometimes more hardened criminals, Pleydon told the court.
The courtroom was full this morning as Crown prosecutor David McWhinnie and defence lawyer David Tarnow embarked on final submissions. The hearing was expected to go for most of the day.
An agreed upon statement of facts was read into the record during a court appearance last February.
The accused and Vittrekwa had been drinking and partying at a home in the McIntyre subdivision, the court heard in February.
Both were intoxicated when they left the residence, with the accused offering to walk with Vittrekwa.
Her body was later found along a walking trail in the subdivision.
Evidence indicates Vittrekwa was found with blunt force trauma to the face and neck. Her jaw had been broken, and the scene was described as bloody.
There was no evidence of sexual assault.
While the exact cause of death was not determined, the court heard it was likely a combination of asphyxiation, intoxication and exposure to the weather.
The psychologist’s report referred to in court this morning indicated the accused remembered some of the violence, but blacked out during other parts of the attack.
He remembered hitting Vittrekwa in the face and dragging her body along the trail.
He also remembered walking to the Alaska Highway, wondering if Vittrekwa would die, wondering if he’d killed her.
Comments (13)
Up 2 Down 0
moe on Jun 13, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Some people are psychopaths. No matter how they became that way, they are not going to change after age 12 or so. Just lock him up forever. After his 2 years of 'hard time' in Canada's juvie prisons, send him out to a psychiatric prison where he can live out his days painting the flowers. Just never again give him the opportunity to surprise people with what he is actually capable of: killing a teen girl with his fists.
Focus on the people who there is actually hope of rehabilitating.
If he does get out, I hope he comes back to the Yukon where people know who he is. I do not actually know his first name. Word should get out though.
Up 2 Down 3
Joey Wales on Jun 11, 2016 at 8:10 am
Gee that is odd, I ask a valid question to "stimulate" conversation and nothing? Seems this circus is more concerned for culture than crime in our community. SO given the rational by our "justice system", Brandy's family can beat the living hell.... this "pos" as they CLEARLY have suffered serious personal/cultural trauma.
Like minded fellow "pos" had better hope I never witness a scene as this.
Just like our yellow stripes, I will neutralize that threat....in the interests of public safety. I too have suffered violent trauma in my life/family, mind you being pigment challenged and a Mars type..I'll get the full force of the PC Crusaders courts...years worth of assertions via posts dragged into the circus.
Folks I can assure you if a "pos" crosses my trail with malicious intent it will be very, very ugly.
Up 24 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Jun 8, 2016 at 6:26 pm
I nominate this young man to stand as an example whenever the various committees and working groups gather together to discuss the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls situation and action plans for change. It appears that many in our community do not believe that justice will be handed down but rather a politically-correct sentence that takes into account his heritage and struggles related to booze and drugs for whatever traumatic influence that drove him to them, but also he must account for his failure to maintain a polite and respectful demeanor when in the company of young ladies. There's lots of positional chatter about rape- is homicide any less of an issue to discuss before an election? This isn't about race- it's about right and wrong and what appropriate penalties should be for those who kill.
Up 27 Down 3
Dr. Dave on Jun 8, 2016 at 4:31 pm
He should be required to read these comments.
Up 27 Down 5
north_of_60 on Jun 8, 2016 at 2:51 pm
The courts should be sending a clear message that drugs and alcohol are never a valid excuse for violent behavior. Zero tolerance to violent behavior; there is no excuse for it. In more 'primitive traditional' societies people who persisted in violent behaviors would be subjected to surprise blanket parties until they wised up.
Up 33 Down 3
Just is on Jun 8, 2016 at 2:47 pm
If he committed a crime he can do the time like an adult. YCJA is just a slap on the wrist. Give her the justice she is due.
Up 32 Down 4
Just Say'in on Jun 8, 2016 at 1:29 pm
The First Nations have to come forward on this. Please do not let the courts treat this person with PC Velvet Gloves.
Due to a perception that the Jail has too large a population of Natives and his Gladeau Report and what ever other harsh potty training he may have received in his life.
The band at the top of the hill is working with the RCMP to achieve a better justice outcome for their community. This can't happen without more representative sentencing.
Let your thoughts be known or you could be next with one of these encounters.
Up 44 Down 5
Josey Wales on Jun 8, 2016 at 11:54 am
serious question for traditionalists....
what would have happened to this "pos" say 7500, or 400 years ago?
If we are going to get all cultural in the courts with respect to FN's, why not perhaps a yesterday solution?
I'm not the person to accurately answer that one, but I'd suspect it would not be pretty...nor survivable.
Up 37 Down 2
John Gould on Jun 8, 2016 at 8:55 am
Worse case scenario is this guy only gets six years. Are you frigging kidding me? Look at this girl, she's gone. She will never, ever be back and he gets six years? I'm sorry but the crown needs to up the charges and retry this bag of dirt. He thought on the way home that she might die and did nothing to change the outcome. To me that sounds like it's premeditated not manslaughter. I'm insulted by the crowns acceptance of a guilty plea to manslaughter - it does not represent justice in any way, form or fashion to Brandy or her family and in fact slaps them in the face and everyone who actually cares about another human being.
You don't have to say his name everyone knows it already.
Shame on everyone who has accepted this plea bargain when the victims pleas fell on deaf ears and her life was snuffed out from her by a monster. Boo to the courts and boo to anyone who thinks this is justice. Bull crap, sickening, disheartening and a complete shame to the family who lost a child. The police who did a great job investigating, gathering evidence and handing it over to an incompetent crown - shame on you and my condolences to Brandy's family and friends.
Up 54 Down 4
Richard on Jun 8, 2016 at 6:16 am
He should be charged as an adult for murder not manslaughter plus he tried to hide the body that's not regret that's him trying a save his own arse.
Up 58 Down 2
He needs to be banished --he is not welcome here on Jun 7, 2016 at 11:45 pm
You, unnamed murderer, are not welcome here. You are not welcome at my school, in my grocery stores, on my sidewalks, anywhere. Those of us who have worked with him have seen what he's capable of. You want him to have a 1 or 2 year sentence--how about a 5 year sentence? Think that's fair? He strangled and beat this poor girl from my school, TO DEATH!!!! Her only crime was not understanding what a horrible, evil dirt bag this person is. Absolute evil. Use some sense ---lock him away FOREVER!!!! You think this is the first time he's assaulted anybody? Check out his lengthy file.
Up 55 Down 3
charlene on Jun 7, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Sentence him as an adult. This poor girl doesn't get to live her life why should he? From the sounds of it, hes already been to jail with no rehabilitation taking place. He doesn't deserve a second chance.
Up 177 Down 10
One of the band on Jun 7, 2016 at 3:27 pm
This POS was out of jail one day before he did this. Who, other than his defense attorney, truly believes that he can be "rehabilitated"?
Go to jail, as an adult, for a very very long time.