Swiftwolfe recieves nine-year sentence in Bradley Ham death

The autopsy found that Ham died from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Schmidt noted the nine-year sentence is mid-range for the charge, adding that it would be difficult for the Crown to prove that Swiftwolfe was the shooter.

She said that no one stepped forward to provide a victim impact statement for Ham. As well, 70 per cent of the witnesses have since died, adding further challenges if the case were to have gone to trial.

“[These are] tragic circumstances,” Schmidt said.

In reading the agreed facts, the Crown said that when Swiftwolfe was last seen he was driving a blue Honda Civic, with Ham in the front passenger seat and Cassandra Fox, who was the co-accused, in the rear passenger seat. They were selling drugs.

Ham’s body was later found at the end of a farm lane in the RM of Medstead Nov. 27, 2020.

The Crown said that Ham was shot in the leg and “left at the end of a deserted road in the dead of winter” where he died.

Ham’s blood was found in the Honda Civic. A pair of gloves were also found in the vehicle with Ham’s blood, and Swiftwolfe’s DNA on one of the gloves.

The Crown added that Swiftwolfe sent several text messages previously, including one admitting that he had “killed a guy.”

“It’s a tragedy of addiction, drugs and gang life,” she said, while adding that there was no sign that Ham was a gang member but he sold drugs.

Schmidt added that Swiftwolfe has a lengthy record, a meth issue and a history of being involved in gangs.

Born in Saskatoon, Swiftwolfe is a Moosomin First Nation member. Nolin said Swiftwolfe hopes to participate in the STR8UP program and attend programs at a federal institution to break away from gang life. He noted Swiftwolfe is a former member of the West Side Outlaws street gang.

“We may never know who shot Ham,” Nolin said, while adding that “Swiftwolfe knew Ham was going to die.”

Nolin noted that two other people were also believed to be present at the time of Ham’s murder – Fox and another woman who he said was later murdered in a house fire in North Battleford.

Justice Morrall said in giving his sentence to Swiftwolfe: “It’s a cowardly act to shoot someone.”

“Gangs and guns are leading you to basically every problem you have in life,” he added. “I hope with STR8UP you can do that [program]. That’s the only thing that may keep you alive.”

The judge went on to say that “drugs and meth are part of your background. You know what you have to do.”

Swiftwolfe will serve his sentence consecutive to time he is already serving for a separate offence that runs until August.

He also received a lifetime firearms prohibition, and was ordered to submit a DNA sample.

The coaccused, Cassandra Fox , was sentenced to four years in custody on Nov. 21, 2022 after pleading guilty to accessory after the fact to murder. Fox, 26, who was serving as an inmate at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in southern Saskatchewan, died Jan. 18, 2023, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.

RCMP previously reported a man was found deceased near a grid road about 30 kilometers southeast of Glaslyn on Nov. 27, 2020. He was identified as Bradley John Ham, 54, of the Prince Albert, North Battleford and Saskatoon areas.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Swiftwolfe recieves nine-year sentence in Bradley Ham death

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