Misha Pavelick’s killer to serve 7-year sentence, judge rules

A sentence of seven years was handed down to the man convicted of killing Misha Pavelick back in 2006. Sierra D’Souza Butts has the details.

The man convicted of fatally stabbing Misha Pavelick in 2006 will serve the maximum youth sentence, seven years, four of which will be spent behind bars.

Justice Catherine Dawson issued her decision on Tuesday. The now 37-year-old man is serving a youth sentence, due to the fact he was 17 when the incident took place.

“I find the depravity of the offence and the degree of [the man’s] moral culpability to be the high end of the spectrum,” Dawson read in court, when laying out her decision.

“Second-degree in any form is one of the most serious offences no matter how it is committed.”

The man will not receive credit for time already served in prison, with Dawson noting the man’s need for “accountability, the need for sustained programming and ongoing education.”

The first four years of his sentence will be spent behind bars at an adult facility, while the remaining three years will be spent in the community under supervision.

Other conditions of his sentence include prohibiting him from consuming alcohol and owning weapons for a period beginning the day of sentencing and ending 10 years from when he completes his sentence.

“This is a most difficult case and if sentencing was a simple question of the seriousness of the crime, it would be straightforward, but that is not the law and the courts are bound to sentence by the laws enacted,” Dawson said.

Pavelick was 19-years-old when he was fatally stabbed at a graduation party at the Kinookimaw Campground near Regina Beach on May 21, 2006.

On Monday, Dawson revealed the man will receive a youth sentence for second-degree murder. The decision comes after the Crown petitioned to have the man sentenced as an adult, following the three-week trial where a 12-member jury found the man guilty last November.

The adult sentence for second-degree murder holds a penalty of life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years. The convicted man has been in police custody since Oct. 3, 2024.

Speaking to reporters after the decision, Crown prosecutor Adam Breker said he was “satisfied” with the court’s decision.

“It was obviously a very long process getting to today. We’re satisfied with the outcome from Justice Dawson this afternoon,” he said, adding he was not entirely surprised the Crown’s attempt at an adult sentence was rejected.

“We’re relieved that we were able to bring this matter to court, that the facts of this incident were covered and that someone’s been finally held accountable, albeit a long, long time after.”

Although the case has come to a close, the burden of losing Pavelick does not end today for his family, Breker added.

Defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock noted there were challenges throughout the case, however he was not surprised by the outcome.

“I’ll never forget this case. I mean, it’s very difficult for a jury to decide because there were several potential suspects, memories of all the witnesses were contaminated by talking to each other and all the years that have gone by,” Hitchcock told reporters.

“It was a difficult case I think, but the Crown put the witnesses forward and we pointed all the problems in the case, and the jury decided how they did.”

He added there is potential to appeal.

“We’re contemplating. He’s got 30 days to decide, but there’s a lot of things to weigh in,” he explained. “I certainly think he has grounds to appeal, but it’s going to be his decision.”