CALGARY – Vanessa Poucette stared down at her feet in the Calgary court room as she was found guilty of manslaughter for the death of her common-law partner Brennon Riley Twoyoungmen last Thursday (Feb. 21).
The 48-year-old had a solemn look on her face as Court of Queen’s Bench Justice David Gates handed down his decision.
“Self-defence was not available in this instance ... I find you guilty of manslaughter,” Justice Gates said.
The Stoney Nakoda woman was originally arrested and charged with second degree-murder in October 2016 after Cochrane RCMP responded to reports of a stabbing of Twoyoungmen, 42.
During the trial it was revealed that Poucette stabbed Twoyoungmen in the chest and did call 911 when he was still alive and conscious, but due to the confusion of the address, it took emergency responders almost an hour to get to the house.
Twoyoungmen died from his injuries by the time paramedics arrived.
Poucette alleged she acted in self-defence, but the judge did not agree.
“I tried to be fair in reflecting the substance of the evidence,” Justice Gates said.
The initial charge of second-degree murder was reduced to manslaughter and the case went before a judge-only trial.
Sentencing is expected in May, with victim impact statements also to be read into the record at a later date.
A Gladue report, a type of pre-sentencing and bail hearing report that takes the offenders Aboriginal background into consideration, was also ordered.
Justice Gates said although he found Poucette guilty, he agreed with the Crown that there is no reason to place her in custody until sentencing, as there is no suggestion from the prosecutor Jillian Pawlow that Poucette is a danger to the community.
