SASKATOON – A man who struck and killed a Saskatchewan conservation officer two years ago will learn his fate on Wednesday. Blaine Taypotat pleaded guilty in December 2014 to manslaughter and impaired driving causing the death of Justin Knackstedt.
Knackstedt, 23, and a colleague had stopped to assist first responders direct traffic on May 31, 2013 after a crash on Highway 11 south of Saskatoon.
RCMP received a call about an erratic driver heading towards the scene of the crash. When an officer approached Taypotat’s SUV, he sped through the crash scene and hit Knackstedt. He was caught when his SUV rolled into a ditch near the interchange of Highways 11 and 16.
READ MORE: Man pleads guilty to running down Saskatchewan conservation officer
Taypotat was originally scheduled to be sentence in January. That was delayed when Taypotat’s lawyer requested the commission of a Gladue report.
The report will focus on an aboriginal offender’s upbringing and will be presented to the court before sentencing occurs.
WATCH BELOW: How is a Gladue report used in criminal sentencing of aboriginals
Gladue gets its name from a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision. It set out how justices should interpret a section of the Criminal Code that called for “particular attention” to be paid to the “circumstances of aboriginal offenders” during sentencing.
Joel Senick contributed to this report
Comments