Convicted killer to face rare weekend sentencing hearing to expedite case
Client: Vanessa Poucette
Charge: Murder
Defence: attending rare decision instance of sentencing hearing on a weekend
Sentence: awaiting decision
With his and the defence lawyer’s court calendars full until the summer recess, a Calgary judge on Friday made a rare decision to hold a sentencing hearing on a weekend.
Justice David Gates said submissions to determine the proper punishment for convicted killer Vanessa Poucette would have to be held on June 22.
Gates made the decision after canvassing the availability of defence lawyer Alain Hepner during off regular court hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for Poucette’s hearing.
But defence counsel Sarah Rankin, appearing for the holidaying Hepner, said his only available dates were ones Gates couldn’t accommodate.
“How about Saturday, June 22?” Gates inquired.
“I don’t know what else to do.”
After quick phone calls by Rankin and Crown prosecutor Jillian Pawlow, who is about to go on maternity leave and herself won’t be available, both said the date could be set.
Pawlow’s chief Crown in the Calgary regional office, Jim Sawa, said he would make himself available, she said.
Rankin said Hepner too would be there.
Poucette was convicted by Gates in February, of manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 1, 2016, stabbing death of her husband, Brennon Twoyoungmen in her cousin’s home on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
Gates rejected the Morley woman’s claim she was acting in self-defence when she killed Twoyoungmen.
Hepner had argued years of abuse at Twoyoungmen’s hands left Poucette fearful of him.
Sentencing submissions were originally scheduled to be heard Friday, but a court-ordered presentence report hadn’t been completed.
Poucette remains at liberty pending a sentencing decision.
Source: Calgary Herald