Man sentenced in Pelican Narrows stabbing death

Jun 22, 2018 | 6:00 PM

A 21-year-old man was sentenced for stabbing a man in Pelican Narrows Friday in what a provincial court judge called another tragic case of violence fueled by alcohol.

Curtis Joel Michel was sentenced to six years in jail Friday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Dale Edward Custer, who died from a stab wound to the chest following an incident in Pelican Narrows on June 10, 2017. Provincial Court Judge Gerald Morin said the case underscores the extreme poverty and issues with alcohol that persist in Pelican Narrows. Morin said he’s been keeping track of homicides in the community, counting 21 since 2001.

“In a small community that is a sad, sad statement of affairs,” Morin said in court Friday. “I can see their pain. I know that these tragic situations hurt people.”

Michel apologized for stabbing Custer in court, saying he takes full responsibility and hopes he can one day be forgiven.

The stabbing happened last June during graduation celebrations in the community. Custer and Michel were sitting on a couch outside on a covered deck at a home in the community, the court heard, when they began telling “fight stories” and discussing which one was tougher. The debate escalated until Custer was stabbed.

According to an agreed statement of facts in the case, Michel then fled the scene, telling other partygoers at the home that he had stabbed Custer. Custer was stabbed three times in the incident, with one wound piercing his heart, causing excessive blood loss and death. The murder weapon was never found and Michel turned himself in to police the next day, the court heard.

After the sentencing, Michel’s defence lawyer Ron Piche said his client is still a young man and hopes to use his time in jail to get alcohol treatment and put himself onto a better path. Piche said his client admits to drinking the day of the stabbing, consuming significant amounts of whisky, rum, and beer.

Piche said Michel and Custer were friends and Custer was in a relationship with one of Michel’s relatives at the time of his death.  

“He immediately expressed his remorse,” Piche told paNOW. “Curtis has been candid with me. When he’s not consuming alcohol he thinks he’s a fairly reasonable guy, but throw alcohol in the mix and horrific things happen.”

Michel was given 18-months’ credit for time he has already spent on remand while his case was before the courts, leaving him with four years and six months to serve. He was also banned from possessing a weapon for the rest of his life and must submit a sample of his DNA to the national registry.

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt