Blog: Life in the centre of attention

Blog: It's not often that a city the size of Moose Jaw becomes the focus of media and public attention, writes Rebecca Lawrence.

But, earlier this month, one of the biggest trials in the city for a long time took place at the Court of the Queen's Bench.

A 40-year-old man called Otto Hansen was handed a life sentence for murdering Deborah Lynne Smith, a 39-year-old woman, in her Moose Jaw home on February 25, 2009.

He slit her throat in front of her teenage son.

The case took a long time to come to trial for a variety of reasons — not least because initially Hansen wanted to represent himself.

The Canadian legal system is fairly similar to the British system but does have some differences.

The judge and lawyers still wear robes but do not wear the wigs familiar to the British Crown Courts.

The trial was in front of a judge but without a jury after Hansen was previously granted special permission by the provincial attorney general.

It was initially scheduled to last two weeks but took a dramatic turn on the second day when Hansen pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree murder. He was originally charged with first degree murder.

In Canada, second degree murder means the death was not premeditated.

The sentencing ranges from life in prison for 10 to 25 years until eligible to apply for parole.

Judge Madame Justice Catherine Dawson agreed with a joint submission from the Crown and defence that Hansen will not be eligible to apply for parole for 14 years.

But she stressed it did not mean Hansen will be successful at that time and it will be a decision for the parole board.

On the first day of the trial, the Crown watched taped interviews with the police where Hansen said he killed Deborah Smith because God told him to and because she would not give him the codes he needed to stop a bomb from detonating in Iraq.

He told officers he was angry he had to kill someone in order to get the Defence Department to listen.

The court also heard a videotaped interview from Smith's 14-year-old son, who said he managed to kiss his mother and tell her he loved her before she died.

The case was presented by the Crown as an agreed statement of facts, which had been worked on in collaboration with the defence for a few weeks.

Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker explained that the use of the statement meant the court's time was used more efficiently and it saved a number of people from having to testify in court.

Hansen's lawyer Mr Morris Bodnar said after reviewing the evidence from the first day of the trial, he discussed with his client the possibility of making a plea offer of second degree murder to the Crown.

Hansen will initially carry out his sentence at the regional psychiatric centre in Saskatoon (central Saskatchewan), until he has completed a treatment program designed for him.

Mr Bodnar said he was pleased Hansen will continue to get the help he needs.

When first charged, Hansen was not fit to stand trial.

But between 2009 and 2011, he improved vastly and was fit to stand trial this March.

Hansen also faced charges for unlawful confinement and assault with a weapon as well as two breaches of an undertaking but these were stayed by the Crown.