Sentencing dates set for teens involved in homicides

Two sentencing hearings for teens involved in separate 2019 homicides have been scheduled to take place in off-site locations.

On Friday, dates were set in Saskatoon youth court for three boys who pleaded guilty in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy in November 2019, and for two boys who pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 31-yearold Mark Enwaya in March 2019.

None of the accused can be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act because they were under 18 years old at the time of the offences.

The sentencing hearing for a 17-year-old who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and a 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Enwaya's death has been scheduled for Nov. 5, Crown prosecutor Ainsley Furlonger confirmed.

Enwaya was found in the alley behind the 100 block of Avenue Q South on March 12, 2019. He was declared dead at the scene as a result of being shot, police indicated.

The Crown is pursuing an IRCS (intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision) sentence — a therapeutic sentencing option for teens with mental health issues who commit violent crimes.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old and two 16-year-olds are scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2021, for the death of a 15-year-old boy who was found, shot, in the TCU Financial building on Arlington Avenue in the middle of the day on Nov. 2, 2019.

This summer, one 16-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while another pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The 17-year-old later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in connection with the homicide.

Psychiatric assessments and pre-sentence reports have been ordered for the teens and will be presented at the sentencing hearings, along with the facts of the cases.

Off-site locations — required when a courtroom cannot properly support the amount of attendees due to COVID-19 safety protocols — have not yet been chosen for either sentencing hearing.