SASKATOON – Sentencing in the case of a man who struck and killed a 23-year-old conservation officer in 2013 has been set. Blaine Taypotat pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month in the collision that killed Justin Knackstedt.
A Saskatoon court decided Monday that sentencing will take place on April 8.
The April sentencing date will allow a Gladue report to be commissioned by the defence. The report is used to issue sentencing recommendations for aboriginal offenders, based on their background and history.
In May 2013, Knackstedt and his partner had stopped to assist RCMP in directing traffic around an accident on Highway 11, when he was hit by Taypotat, who had been drinking.
READ MORE: Drunk driving charges pending after SERM officer killed on Highway 11
RCMP had received a call about an SUV that was driving erratically towards the crash site. When an officer approached the vehicle, the driver sped off and ran over Knackstedt, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Taypotat continued driving until his car rolled into a ditch near the interchange of Highways 11 and 16. He was arrested shortly after.
With files from The Canadian Press
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