Judge reserves sentencing for boy who killed friend while posing with gun for video

A judge has reserved sentencing for a boy who was posing with a gun, pretending to be a gangster with his friends, when he killed a 12-year-old.

“It’s been an emotional and difficult day,” provincial court Judge Lisa Watson told a Saskatoon courtroom Friday.

“Given the position of both Crown and defence, and given the serious nature of the charge and the information I heard today, I think it’s important that I take some time and reflect on everything.”

The 15-year-old boy, who was 13 at the time, earlier pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and is being sentenced as a young offender.

Court heard Friday that three boys had been drinking and passing around the black sawed-off rifle in a Saskatoon home in February 2024.

An agreed statement of facts says they were taking photos and videos of themselves pretending to be gangsters. One video shows the accused pointing the gun at the victim, who was recording it on a phone, it says.

The document says the victim was shot in the head and that the boy who fired the gun thought it was in safe mode.

“The firearm was determined to be functional as it was designed, and there was no way to discharge a firearm without disengaging the safety and pulling the trigger,” Crown prosecutor Shaela Verma told court.

“A mother lost her baby, siblings lost their brother. It is truly heartbreaking that the consequence was the senseless loss of another young boy’s life.”

The third boy in the group, who was also 12 at the time, pleaded guilty last year to criminal negligence causing death.

He was sentenced to two years, with 16 months in a secure facility followed by eight months under community supervision. He was also given 12 months’ probation.

Court heard the two boys tried to blame another boy for the victim’s death, even though this other boy was not involved whatsoever.

Court heard 11 statements from family members who say the victim was fearless, funny and pure, but he grew up too fast. His death left them broken, they said.

A family support worker told court the victim’s mother couldn’t look at her child in the casket at his funeral.

“She said that she wanted to remember his face when he was alive,” the worker said. “This is a terrible load for a mother who lost her son.”