A 23 year-old man was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for killing another man he described as his best friend, and “like family”, on the Far Reserve in 2011.
Jimmy Ross gave a rambling apology to the family of Jason Charles at Court of Queen’s Bench in Prince Albert.
Court heard it was early one morning in September of 2011 that an intoxicated Ross woke Charles up while he was sleeping on a couch.
He then proceeded to stab him 35 times.
The family of the deceased later discovered his body in the home.
Police then chased Ross through the area and caught him.
He was then taken to the detachment where he apparently told investigating officers, “I just threw my life away.”
He also wanted to know if officers had seen the face of the deceased.
Speaking outside the courthouse, the crown prosecutor in the case Robert McKenzie, said it appears Ross mistakenly thought Charles had committed some type of transgression:
“The accused believed mistakenly that the victim, Jason, had been engaging in inappropriate activities. There was no basis for that.”
The judge accepted a joint submission from Crown and defense that Ross be eligible for parole in 10 years.
Mckenzie said Ross’s early assertion of guilt, the waver of the preliminary hearing and completion of the guilty plea contributed greatly to his decision to offer the joint-sentence.
Judge R.W. Danyliuk also commended Ross for the plea saying he spared many witnesses the trauma of having to testify.
During yesterday’s proceedings it came to light that in March of 2011 Ross had just finished serving a sentence in excess of two years for an aggravated assault.
Defense lawyer Greg Chovin told the court Ross was wracked by guilt over the death and was extremely remorseful.
He also said Ross had been in numerous foster homes growing up where he developed anger problems and a drinking problem.
“I think he’s at peace with his decision. This is a decision he’s thought about and it’s something, as was also related in court, that he’s been attempting to do in some fashion or another.”
The judge also imposed a firearms ban as well.