Hearing for La Loche sentencing closes, decision set for later this summer

Jun 16, 2017 | 4:02 PM

An emotional two weeks of testimony has come to a close in the case of a convicted teen who shot four people to death in La Loche. 

A Meadow Lake courtroom heard final arguments this morning, June 16, at a sentencing hearing set to determine if the teen warrants an adult sentence. The youth cannot be named due to provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

As part of the concluding remarks, the teen himself spoke in court to apologize. He said no one deserved to get shot that day in January 2016 and told many of attendees he was sorry for “ruining lives.”

He spoke specifically to teacher Phyllis Longobardi, one of the shooting victims who survived. He told her she was someone who helped him in school, particularly when it came to getting his learner’s license and added she was a good person.