02-06-2025
Calgary lawyers craft sentence for teen with FASD who stabbed her boyfriend in thigh, accidentally killing him
A Calgary teenager who killed her boyfriend when she stabbed him in the thigh in 2022 was handed a two-year, at-home sentence on Monday.
Alexis Ronnie Jerry was 18 years old when she killed Carl Crowchief, 26. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year.
On Oct. 23, 2022, just after midnight, Crowchief and Jerry were in her bedroom in a home she shared with her aunt in northeast Calgary.
Jerry told police that Crowchief took something out of her hand and she felt disrespected. She picked up a knife and stabbed him once in the thigh, striking his femoral artery.
On a 911 call, Jerry's aunt could be heard telling her to apply pressure to the wound.
But by the time paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later, he'd stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Obviously this is an unfortunate and devastating outcome for such a minor action," said prosecutor Kirsti Binns.
Justice Greg Stirling heard that Jerry suffers from severe intellectual impairments and a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Jerry was handed a two-year conditional sentence order to be followed by three years of probation. It was a sentence that both defence lawyer Krysia Przepiorka and Binns put forward.
As part of the two-year sentence, Jerry will be under 24-hour house arrest and must participate in programming as directed by the courts. She will be required to check in with a judge every three months.
Crowchief 'well-loved'
During sentencing submissions on Monday, court heard that Jerry will need lifelong supportive living in a sober environment.
"The consequences need to be meaningful but we also have to come up with a sentence that reflects the person we're dealing with," said Binns.
"If she is ripped out of the support system and network that has been successful in keeping her out of trouble, keeping her sober, it would just end up causing long-term harm."
In handing down the sentence, Stirling addressed Crowchief's family, who were in court for the hearing.
"I appreciate the deep loss and harm you've suffered as a result of the loss of Carl," said Stirling. "I know how important and how well loved he was."
At the time of the offence, Jerry was high on drugs, according to an agreed statement of facts, filed as part of her guilty plea.
Several of Crowchief's family members wrote victim impact statements, describing their grief.
"You broke us and you will have to live with this for the rest of our lives," wrote Mariah Crowchief, addressing Jerry.
Crowchief's younger sister went on to describe how her brother had three children, one of whom died, along with his wife, a year before he was killed.
His surviving two children have lost both their mother and father.
"The loneliness my niece has for her dad is always hurtful to see, she's seven.," wrote Mariah.
"She's supposed to see rainbows and butterflies, not wondering when she can see her dad."
Crowchief's mother, Dorianne Whitford, called her son a "beautiful soul."
"It breaks me every day to know that I'm not going to see him again."
