Watch above: What was to be the sentencing of Blaine Taypotat, guilty of running down conservation officer Justin Knackstedt in 2013, has been put over until June. Joel Senick says the judge has reserved his decision.
SASKATOON – A man who pled guilty to manslaughter in the impaired driving death of a Saskatchewan conservation officer will have to wait two more months to hear his sentence. Blaine Taypotat will be sentenced on June 12 for the death of Justin Knackstedt.
In May 2013, Knackstedt, 23, and another conservation officer had stopped to assist RCMP in directing traffic around a vehicle crash on Highway 11, when he was hit by Taypotat, who had been drinking.
In court Wednesday, the Crown stated it was seeking a 10-year prison sentence. They pointed out that Taypotat had been charged for driving impaired in the past and has been in and out of prison for most of his life.
The Crown also noted that Taypotat hit Knackstedt and kept driving until his car rolled into a ditch, instead of immediately stopping.
The court heard from a number of people impacted by Knackstedt’s death. His father said the family is broken over his son’s death, while the other conservation officer at the scene in 2013 said he still relives the moment in his dreams.
READ MORE: Man pleads guilty to running down Saskatchewan conservation officer
- Trump fined again in hush money trial, judge calls jail ‘last resort’
- Overwhelmed with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse
- B.C. Sikh leader ‘vindicated’ by arrest of Indian nationals in Nijjar killing
- How toy guns brandished by Ontario youth in ‘assassins game’ is prompting real fear
The defence is hoping for an eight-year sentence, arguing that Taypotat is remorseful and wanted to immediately plead guilty to his crime. In court Wednesday, a tearful Taypotat said he was “truly sorry” and wanted to “take responsibility” for his actions.
According to defense lawyers, Taypotat was drinking after learning of his cousin’s death. He was reportedly driving from Regina to Saskatoon for the funeral at the time of the crash.
“We believe that he is very keen to amend his ways and I think this has been a huge shock to him because he’s never done anything this serious before,” said Josephine de Whytell, Taypotat’s defence lawyer, to reporters.
The defence also commissioned a Gladue report, which focus on an aboriginal offender’s upbringing and is presented to the court before sentencing occurs. The report is confidential, but lawyers say it details problems that occurred in Taypotat’s life.
READ MORE: How is a Gladue report used in criminal sentencing of aboriginals
“The state has done the same thing to Blaine every single time something has gone wrong in his life, they’ve put him in jail,” said de Whytell.
“Putting him in jail is not going to get a different result unless something else is there for him,” she added.
After almost an entire day in court Wednesday, a sentencing decision was reserved until June 12.
Comments