2 days ago
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal 2023 Regina shooting
Court of King's Bench in Regina can be seen in this file photo. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News)
A teenager, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been sentenced in connection with a 2023 homicide in Regina.
The youth, who was 15 years old at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of an 18-year-old man in December 2023, according to a Court of King's Bench decision dated May 29.
He also pleaded guilty to three other summary offences relating to firearms and failing to abide by court-imposed conditions prior to the shooting.
Regina police initially charged the youth with second degree murder in January 2024, shortly after he turned 16.
The victim was found the afternoon of Dec. 21, 2023, on Retallack Street in Regina with a head wound. He was taken by ambulance to hospital with a gunshot wound and later pronounced dead, an autopsy later confirming the cause of death.
The shooting took place before 2:30 p.m., but police weren't notified until around 4 p.m., when a civilian called in having believed the victim was suffering from an overdose.
Court documents identify the victim as Gregory Severight, who had just turned 18 years old at the time of his death.
Surveillance video from a nearby home captured what police believe was the sound of a gunshot and then shows a male, identified by police as the guilty youth, leaving the scene.
According to one woman's testimony, the youth came to her friend's home a day or two after the homicide and said he 'took someone for a dirt nap', and that he 'put him to sleep forever.' She also testified that he told the group he had shot the person in the head.
The youth had a gun and was asking for help to get rid of it, along with his clothing. She described the gun as a sawed-off .22 caliber shotgun with the barrel cut at an angle. According to her testimony, the items were taken and disposed of by members of a gang associated with the house.
Court was also shown evidence from Regina police's Forensic Tech Crimes unit, who captured a number of Facebook posts from the youth, including one three days after the homicide that read, 'head shot, give a f*** if ya vest work,' among others. The posts resulted in the youth's arrest at the Paul Dojack Youth Centre. Police also seized the youth's cell phone, leading to further evidence that corroborated the woman's testimony that he was trying to get rid of a gun.
'[The youth] therefore admits that on the afternoon of December 21, 2023, he had a gun and while not specifically searching for Mr. Severight on that day, [the youth] admits that he fired a shot in the direction of Mr. Severight, without the intention of injuring him. However, he struck Mr. Severight in the head, and caused his death,' the court decision said, going on to explain the admission was made with advice and assistance from legal counsel.
The case is under a publication ban for the youth's name under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as well as any information that could identify the youth, but does outline the circumstances of the young offender.
It describes a difficult upbringing and the use of marijuana and alcohol to cope with his mother's violent death.
At one point the youth was moved from Regina to Prince Albert over concerns he was apparently being targeted by a Regina-based gang, who had shot at houses he had been residing at.
The youth said while his father knew he was in a gang, he did not realize how deeply involved he was.
Court also heard he was under the influence of crystal meth at the time of the shooting.
The additional details relating to the youth's background and mental health led the court to find his case met the criteria for what's known as Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS).
In a joint sentencing submission, the Crown and the defence called for the youth to serve two years in closed custody in a youth facility and a third in the community under conditional supervision. Any violation of various conditions could result in spending the third year in custody.
'The plan evolves over time to specifically address issues and concerns presented by each offender. With IRCS programming, [the youth], hopefully, can be safely reintegrated into society in due course,' the judge said.
'It is recommended that treatment should include but not be limited to a program specific to and treatment for violence related issues as well as his psychological needs; substance abuse intervention, educational and vocational planning, life skills training, community-based criminality and violence prevention plan, psychiatric/psychological care, and other areas of intervention.'
The sentence also carries with it a 10-year weapons prohibition.
The youth has already spent a year in custody, but the joint submission did not include any deduction for time served.
No victim impact statements were received, but the judge wrote 'there is no doubt the offence of manslaughter has had a significant impact on the victims, the family and friends of the deceased.'
'No sentence can address the loss of life or the impact of that loss. All the Court can do is sentence according to law.'
Another area of consideration in the sentence were aggravating factors that include a firearm being used, the youth's apparent disregard to the possible harm shooting Severight would cause, and not calling for medical assistance.
'It is aggravating that he was callous in his conduct after the offence, especially bragging and posting photos, showing a failure to understand the seriousness of his conduct,' the decision said.
The judge went on to say that while the youth's moral responsibility in the death is still high, but mitigating factors like his age, his minimal prior record, personal circumstances and his acceptance of responsibility through the guilty plea must also be considered.
'[The youth] has shown remorse for the victims, and a desire to amend his life and engage in rehabilitative programming. He apologized in Court to the victim's family and to the community,' the decision said.
The judge accepted the joint submission.
-With files from Caitlin Brezinski
