Sentence Handed Down In James Smith Killing

Sentence Handed Down In James Smith Killing

Thursday, January 04, 2007 at 13:29

A man from the James Smith Cree Nation will spend the next three-and-a-half years behind bars for killing another man on the reserve two years ago.

Yesterday in a Melfort courtroom, 22-year-old Leland Moostoos was sentenced for the death of Ralph Roderick Burns.

Burns died of knife wounds in January 2005 after an incident on the reserve.

Moostoos was arrested shortly thereafter, and has been in custody ever since.

The judge ended up giving him 48 months credit for time served.

That’s double the two years he actually spent in custody, but consistent with other rulings involving remand time.

Moostoos is also banned from owning a firearm.