Family protests Lamb’s sentence

WINNIPEG — Family and friends of Tanya Nepinak gathered outside the Winnipeg Law Courts Monday to protest Shawn Lamb’s 20-year sentence.

Lamb was sentenced last week after admitting to the killings of Lorna Blacksmith, 18, and Caroline Sinclair, 25, in 2012.

Lamb is still facing second-degree murder charges in the death of Nepinak.

“It was so disappointing,” said Gail Nepinak, Tanya’s sister. “It was like a stab in the heart for those families, including us.”

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The Nepinak family is upset Lamb hasn’t taken responsibility for the Nepinak slaying. The family claims he confessed to it, leading police to search the Brady Landfill for her body, then changed his story.

Nepinak’s body has never been found.

About 30 family and friends held a traditional round dance ceremony at the Winnipeg Law Courts building Monday afternoon and a candlelight vigil at the Manitova Legislative Building in the evening.

Nepinak said she’s so desperate for answers, she plans to ask to sit down with Lamb behind bars in hopes of getting some answers.

“I’m furious,” she said. “We’re to the point we want to know — I’d do anything to get those answers.”

Lamb is being held at the Headingley Correctional Centre and will appear in court next Monday on the Nepinak charges.

He’ll be transferred out of the province to serve the remainder of his sentence.