Defence lawyer Scott Spencer and Gerald Stanley leave court on Thursday. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski.
Gerald Stanley was followed by a small group of men calling him “murderer” after he was committed to stand trial in relation to the summer 2016 killing of Colten Boushie.
Stanley encountered no physical confrontation – only words – in North Battleford as his preliminary hearing ended around noon on Thursday.
Judge B. Bauer determined there is enough evidence for Stanley to go to trial for second-degree murder in a case that has divided people across the province on the topics of racism and the right to defend property.
Boushie, a 22-year-old man from Red Pheasant First Nation was shot and killed while on Stanley’s Biggar-area farm.
This victim’s mother Debbie Baptiste sobbed openly outside the courtroom after the decision was rendered, and members of the family asked media not to take photos of her outdoors as she was accompanied by Boushie’s cousin Jade Tootoosis, who has largely been a family spokesperson in this case.
Boushie’s brother William took over the role of speaking to media in response to the court’s decision, while chants of “justice for Colten” could be heard in the background.
“I set my emotions aside so I could stand for my brother’s justice and be strong for my mom’s sake, for my family’s sake. I wanted to be content and assertive when it came to this court date for the fact that it’s a serious matter not to be dealt with lightly,” he said.
Boushie said he was satisfied with the outcome in court, and their family’s lawyer Chris Murphy said he’d been confident it would go to trial.
Boushie family supporters chant “thou shalt not kill” outside North Battleford Provincial Court. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski.
Supporters of the Boushie family came from all over the province – including Saskatoon, Red Pheasant, Saulteaux, and Thunderchild First Nations – to sing, drum, hold signs and chant throughout the morning.
When asked if the case could be heard in another jurisdiction, lawyers commented that the justice system typically holds trials in the area where the alleged offence occurred.
In this case, the expected trial location would be the North Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.
Stanley is out on bail, and the prosecution says he expects the trial to take place in the fall at the earliest.