Members of Monica Burns’ family outside a Prince Albert courthouse. Photo by Joel Willick.
The man accused of killing Monica Burns has pleaded guilty to manslaughter as well as indignity to a human body.
Burns’ body was found on a remote snowmobile trail northwest of Prince Albert in January 2015.
Shortly after, Todd McKeaveney was charged with second degree murder in Monica’s death. Tuesday morning at a Prince Albert courtroom he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter as well as indignity to a human body.
The Crown and Defense put forward a joint submission for a 12 year sentence for manslaughter as well as an additional one year for indignity to a human body.
The judge accepted the joint submission and McKeaveney was credited with nearly 3 years of time served. He will serve the remaining 10 years and 3 months in jail.
Before McKeaveney was sentenced the Crown lawyer read the evidence found during the investigation
Warning – the following details are graphic in nature.
The following is according to testimony McKeaveney gave to his ex-wife and mother after he had killed Monica:
McKeaveney says he met Monica at a local convenience store and asked her to “hang-out.” Burns agreed and they headed back to his place where they began to do drugs. Then Burns asked him for money for her companionship and McKeaveney said he didn’t have any. McKeaveney claims Burns then threatened him with an IV needle at which point an altercation occurred. During the fight McKeaveny grabbed a flashlight and beat Monica to death with it. He then wrapped up Burns’ body in a rug and dumped it in the area where she was later found.
The Toxicology report proved that both McKeaveny and Burns had high levels of drugs in their systems.
However, the Crown argued that this account by McKeaveny presents an aura of self-defence and they argued based on the injuries to Monica this went far beyond defence.
According to the autopsy, Monica had several injuries including multiple bruises, lacerations and blunt force trauma to her face and head. She also head 4 broken ribs while McKeaveney had no reported injuries following the incident.
After the evidence was presented the family of Monica Burns took to the stand to share victim impact statements.
Family members shared the immense grief they have experienced following the death of Monica and shared how the tragedy almost torn the family apart. Many were openly weeping when the statements were being read.
“Monica was robbed of seeing her daughter go to school, she was robbed of the possibility of a happy life,” says her Uncle Ron Burns.
McKeaveny took to the stand and shared remorse for his actions.
“I’m sorry for the pain, sorrow and uncertainty I have caused,” says McKeaveney. “I hope the family can find peace as this process comes to an end.”
Outside the courtroom members of Burns’ family spoke on a small sense of relief.
“It’s always a difficult time,” says her Aunt Patricia Cook. “We know Todd McKeaveney will get to go home after his sentence is served and we will never get Monica back and that is something we will have to live with, so we will work hard as a family to move forward after this.”
Following Burns death her family has become stewards and advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women. They have organized rallys and walks and were a strong presence during the entire court process.
For Cook this was important because there are many more who suffer the same fate.
“We can never lose sight of the fact that there are many missing and murdered Indigenous men and women still out there,” says Cook. “We pray for those families that they will find some comfort and relief that one of our women have been vindicated.”
In the end for the family they just hope the public will remember Monica Burns as a beautiful young woman who was warm and caring.