Lac La Ronge manslaughter case results in six year prison sentence

Ballantyne was later found naked and face down in a bathtub. Blood was coming from his head and cold water was running from the faucet.

Wilfred Ballantyne was described in court as a protector of his friends and sisters. (Image Credit: Arbor Memorial.)

Police found Bird and the other man lying together on a bed without sheets and arrested both.

Bedsheets were later found in a dryer, and some of Bird’s clothes were found in the bathroom. The items were bloodstained.

Police also recovered several knives, a hammer and a broken frying pan. The items were bloodstained and carried DNA from Bird and Ballantyne.

An autopsy determined Ballantyne died from a stab wound to the heart.

While in a holding cell at the RCMP detachment, Bird was overheard by officers saying, “I killed that [expletive].”

During five hours of police questioning, Bird said the devil had possessed her and that she had sent Ballantyne to hell. She repeated that Ballantyne had tried to sexually assault her but could not provide specific details.

A sexual-assault evidence kit was administered at a local hospital, but the results were inconclusive.

“A very serious crime has been committed,” Justice Sinclair said, adding there was no doubt Bird would have known her actions could result in Ballantyne’s death.

The sentencing range for manslaughter is typically four to 14 years. The Crown sought a sentence of six to seven years, while the defence proposed five years.

Sinclair said sentencing is a highly individualized process. He cited Bird’s personal history, including previous sexual assaults that were identified as triggers in the stabbing.

Sinclair noted Bird had been working on herself and had completed all programs available to her while on remand. A pre-sentence report assessed her as being at a medium risk of reoffending.

“You have a bright life ahead of you if you can stay away from negative influences,” Sinclair told Bird.

Sinclair also cited Bird’s expression of remorse and comments from Ballantyne’s mother, who said that although she was deeply saddened by the loss of her son, she forgave Bird and “does not consider her a threat.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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by Nigel Maxwell

Lac La Ronge manslaughter case results in six year prison sentence

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