(Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Manslaughter sentence

Man sentenced after pleading guilty to manslaughter in death of brother in Sandy Lake

Apr 22, 2024 | 2:05 PM

A family that lost one son watched another go to prison for his death.

Nicholas Bear, 25, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of his brother Nickison in Sandy Bay in 2021.

Bear was shackled and handcuffed when brought into Court of King’s Bench in Melfort Monday morning to enter his plea. He was originally charged with second-degree murder after the incident on Nov. 29, 2021.

In the end, the court agreed with the joint submission of a lesser charge of manslaughter. Nicholas was sentenced to six years in prison, minus time served in remand. He will serve 876 more days, or about two years and five months, in prison. Nicholas will also have to provide his DNA and has been banned for life from owning or possessing firearms.

Court heard the facts of the case this morning, hearing that both brothers were at their sister’s house during a house party that evening. Nicholas saw his brother Nickison and his girlfriend engaging in sexual activity in the bathroom at the party. About an hour after the discovery, the brothers began to fight, and Nicholas stabbed Nickison once with a knife believed to have been found in the kitchen.

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Nicholas, who has alcohol issues, was sober at the party, while the court heard that Nickison was intoxicated, as proven by the autopsy results. Several witnesses indicated that Nicholas had told them he stabbed his brother and threw the knife in the bushes. The knife has never been found.

The stab wound Nickison received led to internal bleeding, and he died in the Air Ambulance plane shortly after it arrived at Sandy Bay. It’s believed Nickison may have survived had he lived in a centre with a hospital.

It was revealed Nicholas had a criminal record which included assault with a weapon after he stabbed his father, and assault on an intimate partner.

The Bear family was on hand for the sentencing hearing on Monday to make their emotional victim impact statements. Elmer Bear, the boys’ father, said the two brothers had been fighting most of that summer, but police wouldn’t intervene because it was deemed a family matter.

“I love both of my sons,” Elmer said during the hearing.

Nicholas and Nickison’s mother, Shaunna Caribou-Bear, sobbed as she told court that their home has been empty without her two boys, and that she loves both of her sons. She said she forgives Nicholas for that night.

The boys’ grandmother, Marie Bear, said she wanted Nicholas to know that she loves him.

In a written victim impact statement, Nicholas’ and Nickison’s half-sister Shaylyn Bear said Nickison had a son and the incident will affect him for the rest of his life. Shaylyn said she too has been physically and mentally affected by Nickison’s death.

Nicholas, who was very soft-spoken during the proceedings, said he wished he could take the incident back.

I’m “sorry for the pain I have caused for my family,” he said.

Nicholas takes part in programming during his time in prison, including upgrading his GED, and going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK