12-year-old Saskatoon boy sentenced for role in shooting death of 12-year-old friend

A Saskatoon judge heard Friday how a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot while drinking vodka and playing with a loaded, sawed-off rifle with his two friends, aged 12 and 13.

The trio were taking video of each other drinking and pointing the rifle and a cannister of bear spray at each other, according to an agreed statement of facts presented in court.

"This was reckless and senseless," said prosecutor Shaela Verma. "Any one of the three could have been shot."

Both surviving boys were charged with manslaughter after the Feb. 19 shooting. The 12-year-old pleaded guilty last month to criminal negligence causing death and was in court Friday for sentencing. His co-accused will stand trial next year.

Judge Lisa Watson accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from Verma and defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle. It will see the boy stay in custody for 16 months, followed by eight months of intense supervision in the community and then 12 months probation.

• Saskatoon teen charged with manslaughter in shooting of 12-year-old released from custody

Pfefferle said the boy, who is now 13, took responsibility for his actions from the outset. He said the ages of all involved is unsettling.

"We have before you a child, acting as a child, but without care or supervision," he said.

According to the statement of facts, the boys were in a bedroom inside of a house on Matheson Drive. They were in possession of bear spray and a sawed-off rifle. All three were posing, taking photographs and videos with the firearm in an effort to appear as though they were gangsters.

"As a part of the investigation, officers seized cellphones belonging to [the boys]. [Saskatoon police] analyzed the phone data that was extracted from the cellphones. Upon review of the videos and photographs taken from that night you see [the boys] had been drinking from a 26 oz bottle of Absolut vodka over a period of approximately three to three-and-a-half hours," it said.

"During this time you see [the boys] take turns pointing the firearm and bear spray at one another. [The 13-year-old] is seen unloading and loading ammunition into the firearm."

Time code on the final video viewed by police showed it was recorded less than a minute before the shooting, the facts said.

Watson spoke to victim's family in court after passing sentence.

"One child lost his life and the lives of two are irrevocably and forever changed," she said.

"It is my hope you continue to remember him with love."