The jury has finally reached a verdict in the death of Shawn Douglas after nearly four days of deliberations.
The jury has found Joshua Wilson, Jonathon Peepeetch and Dennis Thompson all guilty of first-degree murder. The first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic 25-year life sentence.
When the guilty verdicts were read in court, Douglas’ family could be heard weeping, hugging one another.
In the prisoner’s box, Peepeetch rose from his seat, telling jurors “you’re making a mistake but I respect what you have decided.”
10 victim impact statements read in court described the journeyman pipefitter as being a genuine, trusting person.
Douglas’ sister-in-law Janice said Shawn “trusted too much”, telling court they will “never trust like that again”. Their family dynamic has changed forever, she said.
Douglas’ widow, Kim Nuttall had her victim impact statement read by her brother, Bruce.
“Shawn was a gentle, harmless person and his life was taken in a brutal horrific manner. I will never get the image of how terrified he was out of my mind”, the statement read.
Each of the three convicted are given an opportunity to speak if they so choose. Wilson and Thompson declined.
Peepeetch began his statement by saying he doesn’t want to sound “offensive or disrespectful” to Douglas’ family but he maintained his innocence.
“I begin by stating how remorseful I feel and sorrow over the actions committed that night in August so long ago, in which the end result the death of Shawn,” he said.
“I ask for your forgiveness for my part… of not allowing Shawn to leave that night… but I do not seek your forgiveness for murdering him because I didn’t do so,” Peepeetch said.
“Perhaps in the future you will realize the truth,” he said.
Justice McMurtry then sentenced the three men to life imprisonment, with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
Wilson could be seen smiling as he was escorted out of the courtroom, saying “Holla” before being taken away. Thompson left silently while Peepeetch stayed back, hugging his mother goodbye.
On the steps of the courthouse, Bruce Nuttall told reporters despite the successful verdict, he believed the sentence doesn’t fit the crime.
“Although the law has dealt its justice in this case, we do not believe it serves equal and fair punishment for the horrific brutal death that Shawn endured,” he said.
Bruce could be seen hugging Peepeetch’s mother as he left the courtroom.
“I feel sorry for Ms. Peepeetch. She, from the bottom of her heart expressed her… responsibilty for what her son did to Shawn.”
Douglas’ sister, Rita Douglas told reporters they will never receive closure.
“This is not a chapter closed, or closure for myself or my family. This is making a conscious choice to live life,” she said.
Despite sitting through six weeks of gruelling and difficult testimony, Rita had a message of hope and positivity.
“I listened for the last six weeks to a triumph of evil as I wondered where the good people were in the lives of the young people involved. If there’s any message here, there’s a significant problem people of Regina need to choose to address. Get off your couch and make a positive contribution to your city,” she said.
“Build bridges, not walls.”
Rita has made a donation to the Young Parent Program at the Rainbow Youth Centre in Shawn Douglas’ name, and she urged others to make positive contributions to their community as well.
Crown prosecutors James Fitz-Gerald and Derek Maher called close to 40 witnesses over the lengthy trial.
“We had a view of the evidence and a view of what we thought the result should be, and I would say for myself, I’m gratified the jury evidently saw it the same way,” Fitz-Gerald said.
Court heard how Douglas was held at knifepoint on numerous occasions and robbed of $800 cash. He would be later put into the trunk of a car, bound by zipties and led into bush where he would be brutally beaten to death with hammers and crowbars.
His body was found on a rural road near Zehner, Sask. on August 9, 2014.
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