Photo by Photo Submitted
Tanner Sinclair
Protest intends to give a voice to victims
A protest is planned for Tuesday’s sentencing of a convicted killer in Whitehorse.
A protest is planned for Tuesday’s sentencing of a convicted killer in Whitehorse.
Some family members and friends of Tanner Sinclair have planned a protest for the sentencing of Michael MacPherson, who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Sinclair’s 2015 death.
Tanner’s sister, Lindsay Sinclair, is planning the protest in front of the Whitehorse courthouse.
“I have put the word out and I have invited some friends and I hope the community comes together as a whole,” she told the Star Friday from Alberta.
She said the protest is not just about her brother’s case but about Canada’s justice system more broadly, and giving a voice to victims.
“My brother doesn’t have a voice to tell his side of the story,” she said.
Tanner’s father, Brent Sinclair, has already spoken to the Star about his dismay with the plea, Canada’s justice system, and the lack of communication between the court, RCMP and his family.
Lindsay echoed many of these sentiments.
“Two weeks ago, we were called and notified that there would no longer be a trial, that he was pleading guilty to manslaughter that day (Feb. 1),” she said.
“I’m disappointed that we weren’t given any notice.”
MacPherson had originally been scheduled for a jury trial next month, with the Crown seeking a second-degree murder conviction.
“I had to cancel going into work, I had to find someone to work for me. There’s been no consideration,” Sinclair said of learning about the plea the day it was happening.
Sinclair is glad that her family members will be able to read victim impact statements, and hopes this will affect the sentencing outcome.
She noted some of her concerns with the justice system include cases where violent offenders received lenient sentences while non-violent offenders were given harsher punishments.
“The justice system needs to change in some way, shape or form and at all levels,” she said.
“Our justice system allows criminals to do whatever they want to do; you go to jail longer for selling drugs than killing someone.”
Tanner Sinclair died on the morning of July 15, 2015 in Whitehorse General Hospital from stab wounds sustained during a fight at a Whitehorse home. He was 27 years old.
While there is no minimum sentence for manslaughter unless a firearm is used, it holds a maximum sentence of life in prison.
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Comments (9)
Up 15 Down 4
ProScience Greenie on Feb 22, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Judge recall legislation would be a very good thing. Elected judges not so much as we will end up with judges of the same low quality as so many of our politicians. There is also the great danger that in order to stay elected we will end up with judges that err on the side sending the innocent to jail just to stay elected. A quota system nightmare. Best to clean up the system we have before going down the elected judge / prosecutor road.
Up 12 Down 9
Groucho d'North on Feb 22, 2017 at 11:18 am
It's time to start electing our judges in Canada. More and more they are becoming nothing more than social workers with some voice, playing in social policy and attempting to undo demons criminals carry around inside for whatever reason. They should decide and enforce the law, with penalties appropriate to the crimes committed. That's all!
Up 18 Down 7
RIP Tanner on Feb 21, 2017 at 4:24 pm
@June Jackson, your comment "Everyone needs to start bombarding their politicians demanding change.."
Unfortunately I hate to make this political but the majority of judges are by and large card carrying liberal members, and not just the party, the sick ideology that goes along with it. You know the ideology of rehabilitation and second (third..tenth) chances.
Until the judges who sit and preside over these cases come from a different breed of people we will never see justice.
The examples you pointed out in your letter regarding people manipulating the system and getting off under the mental health guise is another item that is very wrong in our country.
Sorry for the rant.
RIP Tanner.
Up 17 Down 6
Robert Dolan on Feb 21, 2017 at 10:03 am
You are totally right our justice system is broken, I came to the Yukon in 1971 lived and worked all my life in Ross River, I raised four children there with two different women, when we split up I had no help, I could not even hire a lawyer in the Yukon, was told to get a lawyer from outside, I had three of my children and two grand children living with me, I was forced out of the family home and it was given to her, she had not lived there for 6 years, I was harassed by RCMP and sent out of the Yukon for three years. I got nothing for all my life of working. She sold my hundred and fifty thousand dollar home and shop for 73 thousand dollars and I got nothing, I came back two years ago went and got help to retrieve the court documents and the lawyer that read them said this is wrong, he said our system is broken, I can't take it back to court unless I get public support, how do you do that? I worked hard all my life and made very good money and gave them all a very good life and got screwed by RCMP AND OUR JUDICIAL BROKEN SYSTEM, we need to stop this unjust bull now and help the victims.
Up 16 Down 3
June Jackson on Feb 21, 2017 at 9:42 am
Canadian legislation in the legal department has failed Canadians right across the country..A cardiologist murdered his two babies.. his defense was he was so mad at his wife he was insane at the time..he spent one year in a mental facility..another man cut off someone's head, his defense was I'm insane, BUT, I'll take my pills... a mother strangled her 16 year old daughter and got an ankle bracelet... and then.. there is our Mr. Sinclair.. where is the justice, not the legalese, but the justice in all of this?
If we elect enough people federally, who are into animal rights..we get harsh laws for animal abusers..if we elect people who are into children's rights we get enormous welfare and child protection laws.. we did elect people that are into prison reform and prisoner's rights..and we end up with inequities in the law.. there is a harsher penalty for killing a moose out of season than there is for murdering a fellow human being.
Everyone needs to start bombarding their politicians demanding change..demanding victim rights, demanding meaningful penalties for murder..(to me, a penalty for murder would be.. you lose your own right to life) for politician's it's a job.. threaten that job with a vote for the other guy.
Make things a political issue at election time... I have written Sandy several times about several issues.. at election time, I will be saying I sent you a letter about our lack of meaningful justice saying I wanted stronger sentences, better support and money for the victims, what did you do about it???
Up 17 Down 0
Holt on Feb 21, 2017 at 6:05 am
Not saying the family isn't justified in most of their concerns. But they said they got a call saying he changed his plea, then state they were disappointed they didn't get more notice... that isn't in the hands of anyone. If they decide to change their plea 5 minutes before the trial starts...that is how much notice you get...not sure how that can or could be fixed.
But yes...I do agree. The system is completely set up for the accused...the victims are lost in it all.
Up 14 Down 1
It's just not right on Feb 20, 2017 at 6:44 pm
What time is the protest planned for? I would like to attend to show my support for victims of all crimes - white collar included.
Up 6 Down 7
anonymous on Feb 20, 2017 at 6:04 pm
You are protesting but he has not been sentenced.
Up 13 Down 7
yukonres on Feb 20, 2017 at 4:44 pm
“Our justice system allows criminals to do whatever they want to do; you go to jail longer for selling drugs than killing someone"
We can cut Tanners sister some slack for this, obviously she is dealing with some grief in her life. However, this statement is completely inaccurate.
Let's say it's dark out, and a drunk runs out across second avenue in front of you and you accidentally hit them and they die. So, by her metric this person should be sentenced much more harshly than the career meth dealer. I am only speculating, but the prosecution obviously felt they did not have a solid second degree murder case. Why else would they offer a plea bargain for manslaughter? For all we know the defense could have brought out a self defense tactic, because as I recall the fight sounded like it was instigated by the deceased. That was from a previous article. Who knows what could have happened with a trial by jury.
As manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life, the accused could still serve longer in prison than he would have under a second degree conviction.