REGINA – James Dustin Woody Myers, 21, of Regina was sentenced to jail on Tuesday for the death of his mother three years ago.
After pleading guilty to manslaughter, Myers received ten years behind bars.
The crown originally sought a second degree murder charge, but after a mistrial and a change in plea from Myers, a joint recommendation was made.
According to a statement delivered by the crown, Myers, who was 18 at the time, got into a fight with his mother after accusing her of not being there for him and his siblings in late May 2013.
It’s a situation the judge characterized as an argument fueled by alcohol that turned violent.
“In order to prove second degree murder you have to have an intent to commit murder and that intent was not present. So, the manslaughter resolution and a 10 year sentence, which I think is a very good sentence for manslaughter in Saskatchewan was an appropriate disposition,” said Kim Jones, the Sr. Crown Prosecutor.
While the defence agreed with the sentence, they also highlighted Myers tough upbringing including being in and out of foster homes, a limited grade six education, and the death of his father a year prior to his mother’s death.
“We always want the best for our children but he never had the best, he never even had adequate,” said Mervyn Shaw, the Defence Counsel.
Myers has been in custody since his arrest. He will serve 6.5 years with credit for time served.
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