Geering sentenced to 7 years for mother’s death

This works out to a total of 2,555 days. To date, he has served 913 days of actual remand time and will now have 1,185 days or 3.2 years left to serve.

Ancillary orders include a DNA order, a firearms ban for 10 years and he can’t have any prohibited devices, weapons or ammunition for life. Geering will also forfeit a laptop, two cell phones and a tablet.

Due to hardship reasons, he will not have to pay the victim fine surcharge, and the original indictment of second-degree murder was withdrawn and replaced with manslaughter.

The case dates back to June 22, 2022, when Geering, in anger after a period of experiencing symptoms of psychosis, struck his 72-year-old mother Beatrice with the butt-end of a rifle; once in her chest and twice in the head, killing her.

“Denunciation, deterrents, protection of the public and Walter’s rehabilitation are the main sentencing objectives in this case,” Labach said.

“A sentence that appropriately punishes Walter for what he did but allows him to continue getting the mental health treatment he requires will protect the public once Walter has finished with serving his sentence and return to the community.”

The sentencing began with a near-empty gallery save for a couple of family members and an hour-long delay.

According to the agreed facts, at the time of Beatrice’s death, Walter and his three-year-old son were living at his parents North Battleford home.

“In the months leading up to June 2022, Walter had been experiencing some delusions and paranoia. He believed that gang members were following him and watching him and that his neighbours were yelling at him and giving him the dirty eye,” said Labach.

Court also heard that Walter had gone to British Columbia to visit his sister several times and she noticed that he had lost weight, was tired and appeared off. He had not been sleeping more than three hours per night.

His sister felt his conversation tended to be out of character for him and and some statements were outright false.

Beatrice Geering (Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium/Website)

“By way of example, he told Cherie that the police had tagged his vehicle and were outside her home. When she asked why they would have done that, Walter explained that they were protecting him because he snitched on one of the gang bosses.”

After pressing him further, her brother said he knew people in the Hell’s Angels, and he was going to get their help “in his war against these gangs in North Battleford.”

After returning to Saskatchewan, Walter called his sister in the days leading up to their mother’s death to let her know their father had been in a car accident and that the police were behind it. When she asked them why they would do that, again he related it back to the conspiracy involving the gangs.

Their father had indeed been in an accident but it was a fender-bender. The following day, she received another call – this time in whispered tones – to tell her their parents were in the gangs.

These incidents lead her to conclude her brother was not well and she asked him to see their aunt who lived near Prince Albert and was a retired psychiatric nurse. Upon observing her nephew during a subsequent visit, she explained that a lack of sleep can “do things to a person’s mind.”

As part of the conversation, he told his aunt he thought he was perhaps going “Insane” and acknowledged he might be having visual hallucinations.

The following day was June 22 and Walter was back at his parents’ home but by mid-morning, his mother was left lying dead on the floor of the basement. Walter then went back upstairs, handed his father the gun and informed him what he had done.

“He put the gun down and went down into the basement, he saw Beatrice with an injury to her forehead,” said Labach. “He thought she had been shot and that she was dead.”

When the police arrived, they found Walter fully clothed and sitting in a filled bathtub with his toddler.

An autopsy the following day confirmed she had died of blunt force injury to her head.

While remanded, Walter was transferred to Saskatchewan Hospital where he was diagnosed with Schizophreniform disorder and started medication.

“As the result of this incident, Walter has lost all contact with his family, and he is not sure if he will ever be able to see his son again,” said Labach.

At his last appearance in October and without family looking on, the 48-year-old apologized for putting his family through the tragedy.

As part of Curry’s victim impact statement, she expressed the impact left on their family. The court heard of how for months she was numb, but now cries at random.

“I can’t grieve for my mom in a normal way because it is so tied to the added loss of my brother and the visions of that violence,” he read.

“My emotional impacts are also tied to my lovely nephew who lost his mother figure and father in one afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Justice Labach took time to explain his reasoning behind the decision.

“I recognize that whatever sentence I impose can in no way alleviate the loss and suffering experienced by the Geering family and and their friends,” said Justice Labach.

“I hope this sentence can, however, bring some closure for them and allow the healing process to begin.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social

by Julia Lovett-Squires

Geering sentenced to 7 years for mother’s death

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