PRINCE ALBERTA, SASK - Francis Yukon, known for his role in the death of a Yellowknife crack dealer in 2003, was found guilty on June 4 for the murder of a Prince Albert, Sask., inmate.

Francis Yukon gives the finger to the camera after his arrest for his involvement in the murder of a notorious crack dealer in 2003. Yukon, now 33, was found guilty of second-degree murder on June 4 for the stabbing death of an inmate at the Prince Albert Federal Penitentiary. - NNSL file photo

Yukon was transferred to Prince Albert from an Edmonton jail six hours before the fatal attack.

The 33-year-old stabbed another inmate, James Ronald Taylor, five times during a basketball game at the penitentiary on Dec. 22, 2005.

Yukon, along with inmate Devon Trent Gerald Paskimin, 27, were found guilty of second-degree murder on June 4. While Paskimin held the 28-year-old victim, Yukon stabbed Taylor in the face, back and chest. One blow punctured Taylor's heart.

Yukon, originally from Deline, and Paskimin face life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 10 years. However, the Crown plans to seek in excess of 15 years of time served before they are eligible for parole. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

The motive of the attack was not revealed during the trial, which was held this past April. There was no evidence the incident was related to the basketball game.

Prior to the attack on Taylor, Yukon had served nearly 10 months of a five-year manslaughter sentence for his involvement in the death of Justin Hai Van Vo, a reputed crack dealer in Yellowknife.

Vo was strangled with an extension cord by Gerald Delorme. Vo's body was then set ablaze on the outskirts of the city.

Delorme was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder in 2005. Yukon lived in the downtown home where the murder took place. Evidence from the trail reveal Yukon participated in the fatal beating of Vo.

Yukon has 14 previous convictions, including five for assault. At the time of Vo's murder he was on probation after serving several months in jail for robbery.