Nicolas Buck. (Submitted photo/RCMP)

By Angela Brown

Sentencing Decision

Buck sentenced for second degree murder following guilty plea

Mar 4, 2021 | 6:38 PM

One of the two individuals facing a murder charge in the death of Mark Douglas Jonson was sentenced to life in prison following his guilty plea at Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford Thursday.

Nicolas Buck, who is in his early 20s, pleaded guilty via CCTV to second degree murder in Jonson’s July 2019 stabbing death. The court heard Jonson died July 2 or 3, 2019.

Justice Gerald Allbright indicated Buck would not be eligible for parole for at least 12 years.

When he addressed the court, Buck said he is not apologizing because he has to, but because he wants to.

All participants during court appeared remotely due to COVID-19 precautions.

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Three of Jonson’s family members gave emotional victim impact statements during court. His daughter, Lydia, was sobbing when she said she was in shock and is “still in shock,” about her father’s brutal murder.

She said her father was a kind man who would “help anyone.”

She said Jonson had challenges in life but he was trying to overcome them.

The court heard Jonson, 61, who was found deceased at his home in North Battleford on July 5, 2019, had multiple stab wounds to his body.

Buck was arrested July 13, 2019. His remand credit time will be reduced from the 12 years before his earliest parole date, if eligible.

Allbright recognized Gladue factors were present in Buck’s case.

He also acknowledged drug use was an issue for Buck at the time of the incident.

“If not for methamphetamine, this likely would not have happened,” Allbright said.

In addition to the sentence, Buck must pay restitution of $300 to Jonson’s family for accessing money from Jonson’s bank account after the incident. He must also abide by a lifetime firearms prohibition.

The co-accused, David Keller, who is facing a murder charge in the case, is scheduled for trial in October. The allegations against Keller have not been proven in court.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW