Sentencing arguments are underway for a 19-year-old teen for his role in a gruesome and vicious double murder on the Standing Buffalo First Nation in the fall of 2012.
The teen has pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder but in his statements to RCMP he downplays his role saying he was heavily intoxicated and has little memory of what happened.
In an agreed statement of facts, prosecutors laid out what happened on the fateful night.
The teen is the last of three people who have pleaded guilty for their roles in a double murder that saw the victims stabbed dozens of times and bludgeoned.
Earlier this month, the ringleader of the brutal attack, Brittany Bear, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Her cousin, Kody Bear, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 18 years.
The court heard the two accused and the teenaged boy broke into the home of 27-year-old Jessica Redman and 28-year-old Sheldon Yuzicappi on Oct. 12, 2012.
Bear stabbed Redman 36 times while Kody and the teenaged boy repeatedly stabbed Yuzicappi.
The victims were also beaten with the lid of a toilet tank.
Prosecutors say the teen initiated the attack on Yuzicappi stabbing him numerous times.
The victim had two knife blades broken off inside of him and his throat slashed.
Prosecutors want to sentence the 19-year-old as an adult where he could receive life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years.
His lawyer is arguing for a young offender sentence where the maximum penalty is four years in custody followed by two years of community supervision.
The crime took place just three months before the teen’s 18th birthday.
The sentencing hearing for the young man is expected to last five days.
It is being held at Regina Court of Queen’s Bench.
In addition to the agreed statement of facts, prosecutors have entered a number of other exhibits for the judge’s consideration including psychological reports and photos.
Witnesses will also be called.