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14 charged in deadly riot at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in December 2016

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Fourteen men have been charged in a deadly riot at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in 2016.

September 20, 2017  By The Canadian Press


The riot at the prison in Prince Albert on Dec. 14 involved more than 180 inmates.

Jason Leonard Bird, who was 43, was killed and two other inmates were injured.

Six prisoners were injured by gunfire when the prison’s emergency response team retook the prison’s medium-security unit.

RCMP say the accused range in age from 19 to 35 and charges include participating in a riot, obstructing justice, rioting while wearing a mask, wearing a disguise with intent and criminal mischief over $5,000.

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Police say the investigation into Bird’s death is ongoing.

Charged are Dylan Ahenakew, 22, Donavon Assiniboine, 22, Skylar Alexson, 24, Brett Babisky, 28, Lance Bear, 29, Julius Beardy, 26, Vernon Bigsky, 31, Taryn Cote, 23, William Fick, 28, Wesley Hassleberger-Wright, 20, John Linklater, 19, Josh McLaren, 27, Scott Nelson, 32, and Larry Windigo, 35.

Beardy, Linklater, McLaren and Windigo made first appearances last week in Prince Albert and are due back in court next month.

A representative from the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers said the riot was sparked over food quality and portion sizes.

Correctional Service Canada has since updated their food service policies to include inmates in food quality oversight, and extra portions are now prepared to allow for spillage.

News from © Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. 2017


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