Crown seeks 25 years parole ineligibility in Fort McMurray murder sentencing

Crown prosecutors argued Monday that a Fort McMurray man found guilty of second-degree murder and offering indignity to human remains in the death of his common-law partner should be ineligible for parole for a maximum of 25 years.

The mandatory sentence for second-degree murder in Canada is life imprisonment, with a parole ineligibility period between 10 years and 25 years.

Timothy McDougall shot and killed Sherri Lynn Flett on Jan. 13, 2022, after an argument in their bedroom.

McDougall left the premises with his roommate Nicholas Herman and his partner Winter Fedorus-Agombar, but returned two days later.

The trio put Flett's body in a Rubbermaid container and hid it in the garage of a different home in Grayling Terrace in Fort McMurray.

Flett's body was discovered 11 days later. 

Speaking at the Court of King's Bench in Fort McMurray, prosecutors Anna Gillespie and Alison Magill cited several aggravating factors they said warranted a stiff parole ineligibility. 

They include that McDougall's offence was abuse of an intimate partner and involved the use of an illegal firearm. 

The defence argued for 14-year parole ineligibility. 

Defence counsel Jamil Sawani said McDougall's long history of substance abuse, as well as intergenerational trauma as reasons for a less harsh parole ineligibility. 

In a letter that Savani read in court, Julia McDougall, Timothy McDougall's mother, said she is a residential school survivor, having attended the Holy Angels Residential School in Fort Chipewyan.

Her experiences in residential school, as well as her own history of family abuse, had a lasting impact. In her letter she said that she struggled with parenting her son, who began abusing alcohol and drugs at a young age. 

Impact on family

During the trial, dozens rallied at the Fort McMurray courthouse seeking justice for Flett, who was a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. 

Lynn Flett's family members said Monday in their own victim impact statements that her death still affects them to this day. 

"Sherri's death has broken my spirit and my strength," said Flett's cousin Lori Cyprien. 

Denise Krueger, also Flett's cousin, said she and Flett "were like sisters." 

Krueger's victim impact statement was read in court by Magill. 

"Our connection was deep and lasting," the letter said.

Flett was remembered as a kind and fun-loving person. She left behind a young daughter, whom Krueger described as Flett's "greatest legacy." 

Krueger expressed gratitude to Court of King's Bench Chief Justice  Kent Davidson, who convicted McDougall, for his decision.

Sentencing will be completed at a later date.