Dakota Dean Whitstone, who remains in custody, leaves the courthouse Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the courthouse

Accused in Tyson Blair Crosschild homicide investigation pleads guilty to manslaughter

Sep 21, 2020 | 1:45 PM

A man facing a charge related to the Tyson Blair Crosschild homicide investigation entered a guilty plea to manslaughter at Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford Monday.

Dakota Dean Whitstone, 22, was set to stand trial for a charge of second-degree murder. When he appeared in court he pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge. Instead he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. As a result, the trial will not proceed.

Crown prosecutor Oryn Holm accepted Whitstone’s guilty plea to the manslaughter charge.

There were a total of 10 people inside the courtroom which had a capacity restriction due to the pandemic. People wore masks and followed social distancing protocols.

Initially the accused elected for trial by judge and jury that was to run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2. Then, on Sept. 9 Whitstone re-elected to be tried by judge alone. Ultimately he decided to enter a plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter on Sept. 21.

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Following Whitstone’s plea, Chief Justice Martel Popescul ordered a pre-sentence report (PSR) to be prepared prior to the sentencing date set for Nov. 13. Any Gladue factors will also be addressed in the PSR. The later date for sentencing is to allow time for anticipated COVID-19 related delays.

Victim impact statements are also expected to be submitted prior to sentencing.

According to the RCMP’s prior report, Crosschild, 28, was found outside an Onion Lake Cree Nation home in medical distress on Aug. 11, 2018, and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The agreed statement of facts in the case will be read at the sentencing hearing.

The court heard it is expected Whitstone will deal with some outstanding charges from Alberta at the same time during the sentencing.

Defence lawyer Carl Swenson. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Outside the courthouse, defence lawyer Carl Swenson said Whitstone hopes for some closure by entering the plea.

“He wanted to save his family the impact of coming to court and going through a gruelling trial,” he said.

Swenson said Whitstone misses his brother-in-law who was the victim in the case.

“He [Whitstone] wants to make sure that people understand that he accepts responsibility,” the lawyer said. “They got into a fight, and it went too far.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW