Man who shot himself in leg during carjacking gets five years

The loaded, sawn-off shotgun Marty Chamakese used to force another man to drive him to Battleford was the same gun he accidentally discharged, shooting himself in the leg.

Chamakese, 31, had just abducted a man, at gunpoint, from the Flying J gas station north of Saskatoon after asking to warm up in his truck, according to the facts presented at Chamakese’s sentencing in Saskatoon provincial court.

When the man refused to take him to Battleford, Chamakese pointed the gun at his head and ordered him to drive.

The men switched places on Highway 16 near Borden, court heard.

Chamakese drove with the shotgun balanced on his lap. It fell, he fumbled for it and inadvertently pulled the trigger.

The victim grabbed the gun and threw it into a field before dragging Chamakese out of the truck and driving a safe distance away to call RCMP, Crown prosecutor Dan Dahl said.

Chamakese was charged with eight offences stemming from the Nov. 7, 2018, incident.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while prohibited, kidnapping with a prohibited firearm, extortion with a prohibited firearm, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition.

Two charges related to possessing an unauthorized firearm were stayed.

The court accepted a five-year joint submission from the Crown and defence. Both the kidnapping and extortion charges carry fiveyear mandatory minimum sentences.

Chamakese was also sentenced to 30 days consecutive on the firearm prohibition offence and received concurrent two-year sentences on the remainder of the charges.

Defence lawyer Mike Buchinski said Chamakese had been using methamphetamine after a breakup. He said Chamakese committed the crime because he wanted to visit his five children in Battleford.

Buchinski told court his client entered an early guilty plea because he didn’t want the victim to experience any more stress.

As part of his sentence, Chamakese cannot possess any firearms for 10 years or any prohibited or restricted firearms for the rest of his life.