Dustin Cookman-Watts prepares to head up the staircase to Kings Bench in Battleford on Thurs., July. 11 for sentencing. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Cookman-Watts Sentencing

Cookman-Watts gets life sentence in Wendy Bird murder case

Jul 11, 2024 | 8:26 PM

Standing outside the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford following the sentencing of Dustin Cookman-Watts for the murder of Wendy Bird two years ago, Brenda Freeman felt a sense of relief.

“I’m glad with the outcome, I think he got what we were expecting him to get,” said Bird’s mother.

“Just with my family being here, I think that really made a big impact.”

The courtroom had been a somber one. As the sentencing hearing was heard, families of both the accused and the victim sat side-by-side in the old courthouse’s wooden gallery. Though it was a quiet audience, sniffles and muffled sobs on both sides of those directly impacted by the case were heard as the details – under a publication ban – were laid out.

Wendy BIrd’s family stands outside the court house on Thurs., July. 11 following the sentence of Dustin Cookman-Watts. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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North Battleford’s Cookman-Watt, who was originally facing a first-degree murder charge with a trial set for January 2025, instead chose to forgo a jury trial in favour of judge-alone trial. He entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of second-degree murder of the 24-year-old Prince Albert woman, whose body was discovered on the HWY 16 near Maymont on Oct., 16. 2022.

Presiding over the sentencing was Justice Brenda Hildebrandt and as Prosecutor Cory Bliss and Defense Lawyer Michael Nolan laid out the facts of the case and spoke about the people involved, the accused – wearing a grey sweatsuit – sat in the prisoner’s box with his head down.

After hearing statements, and following a brief adjournment, Justice Hildebrant agreed to the joint submission which sentenced Cookman-Watts to life without eligibility for parole for 17 years – dated from the time of his arrest, the earliest he can apply for parole is October 19, 2039. In addition, he will also receive a two-year sentence for Count 2 – that involves committing indignity to a body to be served concurrently. As part of the sentencing, the court ordered a DNA analysis to be performed, life-long fire-arms prohibition and no contact with other individuals involved whose cases are still working their way through the courts.

As the family of the woman who had dreams of being a youth worker and previously described by family members as being a “different kinda soul,” gathered together outside under the hot sun for hugs and goodbyes as they made their way home to communities around the region, Freeman said they can begin the healing.

Beverly Boe speaks with a family member on Thurs., July. 11 following the sentence of Dustin Cookman-Watts. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“We’ve talked about it, we walked about it on the way here that it’s due time now,” she said.

BattlefordsNOW asked Cookman-Watts’ family if they would like to make a statement or comment about the outcome, but they declined.

Leo Bell, a member of the family said he too felt “It’s up there.”

“It went the right way.”

Meanwhile, Beverly Boe, Freeman’s best friend and Auntie to Bird said overall, they were content.

“We’d be much more content if Wendy was still here.”

With files from Nigel Maxwell

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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