Judge calls for NWT treatment centre
Call comes during sentencing for man
who beat his uncle to death while drunk
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An NWT Supreme Court judge decried the lack of a residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities in the territory while sentencing a man Friday who was so drunk he doesn't remember beating his uncle to death at a house party last year.
Judge Louise Charbonneau sentenced Stanley Abel Jr. to five years in prison for the manslaughter death of Herman Abel, who was asleep in a Dettah household March 30, 2016 when his nephew began punching and kicking him, believing that he had stolen his bottle of alcohol.
He died later that day in hospital.
The judge warned alcohol abuse, and binge drinking in particular, is a serious problem in the territory, made worse by the lack of locally-available options to treat it.
"There is no rehabilitation facility in the NWT," said Charbonneau.
"That is an additional obstacle for those trying to seek help for addiction issues. I hope that some day more resources and avenues will be made more of a priority."
Currently, NWT residents can choose on-the-land programs if they want treatment in the NWT but those wanting treatment in a residential facility for drugs and alcohol must go to a centre in either Alberta or B.C. The last operational treatment facility in the territory was the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve.
The territorial government closed it in 2013, stating there weren't enough addictions counsellors to properly staff it. Charbonneau credited Abel Jr. with 16 months of time served as he has been in custody since March 30.
That means he has three years and eight months left to serve. The judge said she would strongly recommend Abel Jr. be allowed to serve his sentence in the NWT in order to be close to supportive family members. But she added that decision is ultimately out of her hands.
Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre, who had asked for a six-year sentence, did not object to the shorter term. Abel Jr.'s defence lawyer Charles Davision had asked for a four-year sentence.
Later, outside of court, Lecorre said Charbonneau was not off the mark with her statement about the need for a drug and alcohol treatment centre in the NWT.
"Certainly in the NWT, as the judge said, there is no residential alcohol treatment centre," said Lecorre. "This case underscores the tremendous problem alcohol abuse is here in the NWT. It's for the greater good of society that those that need rehabilitation - that access to rehabilitation be there for them, absolutely."
Davison said he too concurs with what the judge had to say about the lack of an alcohol treatment facility in the territory.
"I would hope the powers that be - the health authority and to some degree the justice authorities listen, take note and act on that," said Davison.
"Just as Justice Charbonneau said, we see daily the results of excessive alcohol consumption and the kinds of tragedies and behaviour that leads to and the court cases and the losses that are incurred."
Yellowknifer reached out to both Justice Minister Louis Sebert and Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy for comment on the judge's statement, however, cabinet spokesperson Andrew Livingstone said they would not comment.
"Ministers do not comment on political statements made by a judge," Livingstone stated in an e-mail.
Following sentencing, Beverly Fatt, who described herself as a close relative of both Stanley and Herman Abel, said the sentence brings some closure for the family.
"It's been tough on us all but I know we will come together and be stronger. We're all in the same family so we have to support each other no matter what," said Fatt.
"I (forgave) Stanley today for the first time. It was a relief to see him. I do forgive him."
Inside the courtroom, which seats about 25 people, court security made the rare move of opening the vestibule behind the courtroom to the overflow crowd of friends and family. Relatives held an impromptu healing circle around Abel Jr. after sentencing while he remained in the prisoner's box. They told him they loved
him and supported him.
Abel Jr. thanked his relatives and said he loved them back.
