One man entered a manslaughter plea, an accused killer sought GPS monitoring and a former Christian school director appeared on new charges.
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A man pleads guilty to manslaughter. An accused killer seeks GPS monitoring. And a former Christian school director appears on new charges.
The following is a summary of three cases that were in Saskatoon provincial court on Thursday.
MANSLAUGHTER PLEA
A man has pleaded guilty in connection with a historical homicide 15 years ago in Saskatoon.
Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle told court his client will plead guilty to manslaughter in connection with the 2009 killing of 33-year-old Morgan Doucette. The plea will be formally entered during a scheduled sentencing hearing on Oct. 30.
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The offender, now 33, was 18 years old at the time of the offence. However, he cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act because he’s also charged with first-degree murder in another historical homicide case, when he was 17 years old.
That case involves the stabbing death of Spencer Whiteman, 22, in the 300 block of Avenue T South on Jan. 1, 2009.
Doucette was fatally stabbed 11 months later at a house party in the 400 block of Avenue H South on Nov. 16, 2009.
The man was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder last April in connection with both cases. He is currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Saskatoon in 2015.
Dexter Saul Laplante and Michael Wayne Gamble, both 33, are also charged with first-degree murder in connection with Doucette’s death. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 7.
BAIL REPORT ORDERED
A Saskatoon judge has ordered a bail supervision report for a man charged with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains.
Edin Dion Vrazalica, 34, was charged after the body of 25-year-old Lee Perkins was found in a Pacific Heights neighbourhood home in the 600 block of Lisgar Avenue on Feb. 3. Police say an officer shot him as he tried to run away during what was initially an investigation into an aggravated assault involving a gun.
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His lawyer requested that the report specifically canvass GPS monitoring. Vrazalica remains in custody until his next court date on Oct. 25.
His co-accused, Chantal Lee McLaren, was released in May after a bail hearing in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench. McLaren and another man, Dillon Singler, are also charged with first-degree murder.
MORE CHARGES IN HISTORICAL ASSAULTS
Kenneth R. Schultz called in to court for his first appearance on new charges connected to alleged historical assaults when he was the director and vice-principal at a Saskatoon Christian school.
Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle asked the court to adjourn the case to Oct. 28. Schultz remains out of custody.
The 75-year-old was charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and assault with a weapon after turning himself in to Saskatoon police on Sept. 18.
A publication ban was ordered on the complainant’s identity.
According to the Crown, the offence dates are between 1994 and 1997. At the time, the north-end school was called Christian Centre Academy. It was recently renamed from Legacy Christian Academy to Valour Academy.
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Schultz was previously charged in July 2023 with sexual assault and assault with a weapon after allegations prompted an investigation in 2022.
He pleaded not guilty to those charges, which stem from between 1987 and 1993. A jury trial that was scheduled to begin this month in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench has been adjourned to May 2025.
Schultz is one of four ex-administrators still before the court, charged in connection with historical assaults at the school.
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