Judge convinced it ‘would not be just’ to sentence La Loche school shooter as youth
A youth sentence “would not reflect the seriousness” of the crimes of a young man who killed four people and injured seven others in La Loche, the judge said.
An audio recording of Judge Janet McIvor’s decision to sentence the shooter as an adult was made available to media on Friday night, after media were locked out of the courthouse for most of the proceedings in La Loche court Friday.
Now 20, the young man had pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in relation to the shootings at a home and the high school in La Loche on Jan. 22, 2016, when he was a 17-year-old high school student. On Friday, learned he will be sentenced as an adult.
In her decision, McIvor said she had to consider the seriousness of the shooter’s crimes, whether the shooter’s age meant he had less capacity for moral judgment and whether a youth sentence would provide enough time for the shooter to be safely reintegrated into the community.
In this case, a youth sentence “would not be just,” McIvor told the court.
“(The shooter) requires longterm monitoring for his rehabilitation and to meet his ongoing needs, many of which are unknown at this time and also for his eventual safe integration back into the community. Even if I was convinced that a youth sentence would be sufficient to meet (the shooter’s) rehabilitation needs and provide a basis for him to be safely reintegrated into the community, nevertheless I would have imposed an adult sentence.”
McIvor said that although the shooter has a low IQ and may have fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, his moral culpability for his crimes was high. She described the shooting as “very sophisticated” and said the shooter had carefully planned his actions to cause the most damage, for example by using a shotgun instead of a rifle. McIvor also pointed out that the shooter was able to adapt when things went wrong; for example, he picked up a second gun after the first one he tried jammed.
“These were not an impulsive act done by an immature person,” McIvor said. “The planning, the deliberation, the resolve, all have an adult-like quality.”
If the shooter was sentenced as a youth, he would face six years in custody, followed by four years of supervision in the community.
McIvor said that would not be enough time for the shooter to be rehabilitated.
McIvor also addressed the shooter’s family, who have supported him throughout his time in custody. According to McIvor, the shooter’s family calls him daily and he has an uncle in Saskatoon who visits him regularly.
“This young fellow is going to need your continued support. However, as his family, to assist him in his rehabilitation and his eventual reintegration back into the community, folks you must also come to terms with what he has done both within your family and within the community as a whole,” she told his family, who had gathered in court.
“I know and I understand, to a point, the family is reluctant to speak about the offence with the young person. I also suspect that you’re reluctant to discuss it with each other ... However, for his rehabilitation to be helpful, effective and healthy, the family must themselves also face the reality of what he has done and also acknowledge his crimes. Then and only then can the family assist (the shooter) so that he can address various issues at the root of the very serious violence that he is capable of.”
The shooter’s next court appearance is March 16 in Meadow Lake. McIvor told the court on Friday the shooter will appear via video link from Saskatoon. She said sentencing will not be completed on that date. Rather, she will talk to Crown and defence about any submissions they may have with respect to the sentencing. A youth sentenced as an adult for first-degree murder faces life behind bars with no eligibility for parole for 10 years.
McIvor said the publication ban on the shooter’s name will remain in place until sentencing is complete.