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A 26-year-old Prince Albert man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of his young son.
Kaij Brass was given a 16 year sentence Monday afternoon at King’s Bench Court in Prince Albert. Brass pleaded guilty in January to causing the death of his 13 month old son Tanner Brass in February of 2022.
The sentence was made as part of a joint submission put forward by both the Crown and defense, which Justice G.A. Meschishnick agreed to impose.
During the hearing court heard that on Feb. 10 2022, Brass and his partner Kyla Frenchman got into a fight which ended when Brass threw Frenchman out of their home. Court was told Tanner witnessed the fight between his parents and became upset. Brass tried to comfort his son but he eventually started hitting his son after becoming frustrated. He eventually put Tanner in his bed. Brass told police he noticed Tanner was having breathing issues and was spitting up blood but did not call for help. Later Brass went to sleep and woke up the next morning and called 911 when he couldn’t revive Tanner. An autopsy found Tanner died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.
As part of the joint submission the court was told Brass, a member of Peepeekisis Cree Nation grew up between the communities of Little Red Reserve and Sturgeon Lake and had an unstable home life where alcohol abuse occurred. Brass also reported being abused as a child. The court was also told Brass was in the grips of severe alcoholism when Tanner was killed.
Before G.A. Meschishnick handed down the sentence he allowed Brass to address the court. Brass, who was sitting in the prisoners box in leg irons wearing a black and white flannel overcoat stood up and apologized for his actions.
“I want to accept the responsibility,” he said.
After the hearing was over Brass turned to a small group of family who were seated in the first row and blew them a kiss. He eventually broke down crying and covered his face.
Besides Brass’s family no one else was present in court. A lawyer representing Frenchman listened in on the hearing via phone. The Crown said they did not receive any victim impact statements.
Speaking to media after the hearing, Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker explained a 16 year sentence for manslaughter is the highest sentence which has been imposed on someone for committing the offense in Saskatchewan.
“It needed to be that way to address the seriousness of the offense,” he said.
(Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker. Photo by Michael Joel-Hansen.)
Zachary Carter, Brass’s lawyer told media it took some time and negotiation for the Crown and defense to come to an agreement in regards to the joint submission. Carter said Brass is truly remorseful for causing the death of his son.
“I don’t think any sentence a court can compose is going to come near to the anguish he’s going through as a result of what happened,” he said.
With credit for time served on remand Brass will be eligible to seek parole after five years.
The death of baby Tanner created shockwaves in the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS). An independent investigation found that officers who attended the house where Tanner died the night before were negligent in their duties. Not long after the report was made public, PAPS Chief Jonathan Bergen announced his retirement, citing criticism of his handling of the case, specifically in regards to the two officers suspended for actions on the night in question.
(Top Photo: King’s Bench Court in Prince Albert. Photo by Michael Joel-Hansen.)