Sturgeon Lake Man Sentenced To Life In Prison

Friday, March 28, 2008 at 14:05

A 39-year-old convicted murderer has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 11 years.

The family of Leslie Ann Longjohn left in silence following the sentencing of Rick Harold Ermine, the man who killed her.

He was found guilty of killing Longjohn with a wrench on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in October of 2006.

The judge called the crime “brutal” and “unprovoked”, and noted it happened in front of three small children.

Later, a sobbing Ermine stood up in court and mumbled: “I just had to say sorry for taking her away from you guys. I hurt myself, I hurt a lot of people”.

Speaking outside the courthouse, defence lawyer Ed Stephens says the judge could have sentenced Ermine to a longer sentence — but took his Aboriginal heritage into account.

Both the Crown and defence say they will consider an appeal.

Ermine will begin serving his sentence in a federal penitentiary.