Roy Lasas. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Death of man at Mistawasis First Nation results in manslaughter conviction

Apr 28, 2025 | 3:00 PM

A man who stabbed another man with a kitchen knife seven times before leaving him for dead has been acquitted of second degree murder and instead convicted of manslaughter.

The verdict for Roy Lasas was read Monday morning at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert and relates to the death in November 2020 of Troy Watson at Mistawasis First Nation.

The actual trial wrapped up last December and it was revealed that at the time of the incident both men were high on drugs. This played a major role in why Justice Meschishnick found Lasas guilty of the lesser offence.

“I am not convinced you had intent at the time of the assault,” he told Lasas.

As per testimony heard at trial, Watson’s lifeless body was found in the snow outside a residence and there was a blood trail leading up the steps of the deck to the home’s entrance. There was also blood found just inside the door area.

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Lasas was not arrested until January 2022 and confessed his crime to a friend, who had picked him up from the house, as well as to an undercover police officer at the men’s jail. He claimed he had been using hard drugs for months and was high on meth when he stabbed Watson.

Meanwhile, the people who had been with Watson earlier in the day testified the victim was also intoxicated (possibly both drugs and alcohol), and upon returning to the reserve after a trip to Saskatoon, slapped a security officer in the face.

“Had it not been for the unknown effect that drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine when combined with fear, rage and anger can have on cognitive ability, I would have concluded on all of the evidence that the Crown had proven that the accused had the necessary intent to commit second degree murder,” Justice Meschishnick wrote in his decision.

Defence had also argued Lasas was acting in self-defence and was attempting to stop Watson from stealing a cellphone.

“If it were necessary for me to decide the issue, I would conclude the defence of provocation would fail because Troy’s wrongful acts would not deprive the ordinary person of the power of self-control,” Meschishnick stated.

Crown Prosecutor Kristen Hubbard, who at the start of the trial did not accept an offer by the defence to enter a guilty plea to manslaughter, stated there was no direct evidence to prove Lasas was intoxicated when he stabbed Watson, adding he knew his actions would cause death.

A pre-sentence report has now been ordered which will delve deep into Lasas’s personal background and ultimately assist the justice to make an appropriate sentencing decision.

Typically the range of sentencing for manslaughter varies from four to 14 years.

The case will return to court on August 8.

Several members of the Watson family were present for Monday’s verdict and appeared visibly frustrated. When they heard the decision they abruptly stood and left the courtroom.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell