Sasha Cayen, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2017 death of 25-year-old Alexander Norwegian, wonSA国际影视传媒檛 serve prison time for her role in the fatal robbery plot that shook the town of Hay River.
Sasha, 26, remained still, showing little emotion as Judge Robert Gorin sentenced her to three-years and seven-months.
With a credit of 1.5 days for every day spent in remand custody - sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been in jail since Jan. 4 of last year - Sasha will have two years less a day left to serve, meaning sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to serve her term in the territory - not in a southern prison.
During sentencing submissions last week, SashaSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Scott Cowan, asked Gorin to consider a sentence that, with credit for remand custody, would bring his clientSA国际影视传媒檚 term down to less than two years. Sentences of more than two years trigger prison terms.
Sasha Cayen, 26, leaves the Yellowknife courthouse last week following a sentencing hearing. Cayen was sentenced on Friday to three years, seven months for her role in a robbery plot that led to the death of Alexander Norwegian in Hay River.
NorwegianSA国际影视传媒檚 mother, Wanda, who detailed the SA国际影视传媒渓iving nightmareSA国际影视传媒� sheSA国际影视传媒檚 experienced since her sonSA国际影视传媒檚 death during the reading of an emotional victim impact statement last week, walked out of the Yellowknife courtroom as the sentence - five months less than the term proposed by prosecutors - was imposed.
Another teary-eyed family member joined her.
Gorin himself later appeared emotional as he summarized the case, and the impact the death has had on Norwegian's family.
Sasha, 26, was charged alongside cousins Tyler Cayen, 33, Levi Cayen, 21 and James Thomas, 27, in early 2018 after NorwegianSA国际影视传媒檚 beaten, bloodied and frozen body was discovered on an isolated access road in Hay River on Dec. 28, 2017.
Norwegian died of hypothermia after being beaten and left to freeze to death following a robbery that occurred between Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, 2017. Blunt force trauma to Norwegian's head contributed to his death.
Sasha, the court heard last week, played a key role in the robbery plot, hatched by Levi Cayen and James Thomas, that ultimately claimed NorwegianSA国际影视传媒檚 life.
Sasha arranged to meet Norwegian to buy crack cocaine from him on the Sandy Creek access road SA国际影视传媒� but only Levi and Thomas went to meet Norwegian, bearing balaclavas and armed with a small baseball bat.
Sasha wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 present during the robbery, didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know Norwegian would be beaten and killed, and didnSA国际影视传媒檛 see the two men leave with a weapon, but she SA国际影视传媒渁bsolutely played an integral role when she chose to send a text to set up Mr. Norwegian,SA国际影视传媒� said Gorin as he handed down his sentence.
Gorin noted a degree of trust Norwegian held for Sasha - heSA国际影视传媒檇 called her for help earlier in the night when he stuck his car in a snowbank - was SA国际影视传媒渆xploitedSA国际影视传媒� by the offender.
He said the risk of serious bodily harm for Norwegian was foreseeable for Sasha - she knew heSA国际影视传媒檇 be alone, facing two men.
Gorin acknowledged SashaSA国际影视传媒檚 concern that night when the two men hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 returned for over an hour. She texted Norwegian a number of times, with no reply.
But, said Gorin, Sasha made no attempt to get help for Norwegian. SA国际影视传媒淚 find she had a duty to do so,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Between the robbery and SashaSA国际影视传媒檚 arrest, she continued to smoke crack cocaine and drink.
Turning to SashaSA国际影视传媒檚 pre-sentence report - a look into an offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 background prior to sentencing - Gorin said significant Gladue factors were absent - she grew up in a stable home - but noted her grandparents are both residential school survivors. Echoing prosecutor Jay PotterSA国际影视传媒檚 words, Gorin said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 evidence of intergenerational or systemic trauma.
Based on the report, Gorin cited SashaSA国际影视传媒檚 apparent SA国际影视传媒渟trong connection to the North,SA国际影视传媒� as a Dene woman grew up in Hay River. In crafting a sentence that, with remand credit, imposes a jail term - not a prison sentence - Gorin said Sasha would be able to maintain that connection. Given her age, Gorin said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a promising prospect of rehabilitation.
Sasha will be on probation for three years following her release.
SheSA国际影视传媒檚 barred from leaving NWT, must submit a DNA sample, and is prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years. Sasha is ordered to complete 240 hours of community service during the first 18 months of probation - a condition that will see her give back to the community she SA国际影视传媒渄amaged,SA国际影视传媒� said Gorin.
Tyler Cayen, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter, was sentenced to two years less a day in NWT Supreme Court last week. The court heard Tyler helped Thomas burn clothing worn by Norwegian the night he was robbed and beaten.
Levi Cayen and James Thomas, both facing first-degree murder and robbery charges, are expected to go to trial in early 2020.
- with files from Meaghan Richens
