Judge’s decision sheds light on killer’s early life
Depression, immaturity not ‘convincing rationale’ for Skylar Prockner’s actions
After sentencing Skylar Prockner earlier this week to life in prison for the brutal murder of 16-yearold Hannah Leflar, Justice Jennifer Pritchard released a detailed 45-page decision on Thursday.
The decision includes a pre-sentencing report and references several psychiatric and psychological reports, which provide details of Prockner’s childhood years, the months leading up to the murder and his time on remand.
As early as six years old, Prockner expressed thoughts of murder and suicide, according to Elizabeth McGrath, a psychologist with Child and Youth Services Saskatchewan. Prockner was referred to Child and Youth Services by his mother after talking about killing himself and his friends and expressing a desire to become a serial killer to his teacher on two occasions.
According to McGrath, Prockner’s mother felt the situation was another case of teachers and professionals “getting things wrong” and told McGrath, “If he wants to be a Chip and Dale (sic) dancer or serial killer I will support my kid.”
Prockner was referred to Child and Youth Services again at age eight after receiving suspensions at school. His parents allegedly received phone calls every week in regards to him swearing, throwing things and pushing kids.
In June of 2007, the decision read, Prockner threatened suicide again and in April 2008, at 10 years of age, he underwent a psychiatric assessment by Dr. Senthil Damodharan. He thought Prockner may be suffering from Dysthymia — chronic low grade depression — and recommended counselling.
But according to McGrath, Prockner had no contact with Child and Youth Services or Damodharan for the next six years until he was admitted into the Adolescence Psychiatric Unit at the Regina General Hospital on Sept. 15, 2014, approximately four months after Leflar had ended their relationship.
Dr. Brent Harold, a psychiatrist who works bi-weekly at the Paul Dojack Youth Centre where Prockner spent the past two years on remand, had approximately 17 sessions with Prockner between the summer of 2015 and April 2017.
Six months after meeting Prockner, Harold concluded he had no psychiatric issues and showed no symptoms of depression. According to Harold’s report, Prockner showed little remorse or guilt and was unable to appreciate how his actions hurt others.
Of the approximately 5,600 young people Harold has worked with, he said only four or five of them showed concerning sociopathic tendencies. He included Prockner in that group. According to his report, Prockner’s suicidal thoughts and threats of self-harm are a “reactionary response” to feelings of frustration and anger when he gets bad news or doesn’t get his way.
Prockner’s troubled childhood was acknowledged in a courtordered psychiatric report made by Dr. Oladapo Soyemi on October 21, 2016, which included alleged physical and emotional abuse from his mother, bullying at school and “witnessing parental acrimony.”
He reported that a definitive diagnosis was difficult, but considered the possibility that Prockner suffered from Major Depression Disorder or Dysthymia as previously noted by Prockner’s psychiatrist in 2008.
Soyemi also noted borderline personality disorder was a possibility in light of his relationship with Leflar and his fear of abandonment and rejection, which he said had been “replicated in his relationship with his first girlfriend … albeit to a lesser extent.”
Dr. Terry Nicholaichuk, a psychiatrist who testified for the defence completed two reports based on interviews with Prockner between March 30 and April 27, 2016.
He maintained that Prockner had significant mental heath issues.
Taking it all into account, Pritchard’s written decision is clear and decisive.
“Ascribing Skylar’s actions on January 12, 2015 to immaturity or depression simply does not provide a convincing rationale for his behaviour; jealousy and anger do,” wrote Pritchard.