Protesters hit downtown streets to protest Lamb plea bargain

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This article was published 18/11/2013 (4378 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

About 60 people took part in a round dance outside the Law Courts in Winnipeg over the lunch hour today to protest Shawn Lamb’s plea bargain.

Last week, Lamb was given a 20-year sentence for his role in the the deaths of Lorna Blacksmith, 18, and Carolyn Sinclair, 25.

Lamb faced second-degree murder charges in connection with their deaths as well as the case of Tanya Nepinak, 31, who disappeared in September 2011. Her remains have never been found.

In a controversial plea bargain last week, he pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and was handed 20 years in prison. There was no mention of second-degree murder charges at the hearing in the Nepinak case.

Tanya Nepinak’s mother and aunt both today spoke out against the agreement Lamb struck last week.

“They didn’t pay for my daughter; why didn’t they do that?” Joyce Nepinak said, referring to a highly charged deal that saw Lamb offer confessions his lawyer suggested were made in return for $1,500 police deposited at the Remand Centre canteen for snacks and pop.

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The family said they feel left out because no one from the justice system has been in touch to tell them what to expect.

“There’s no closure for our family,” Nepinak’s aunt Sue Caribou said.

The round dance is one of three events organized by local Idle No More and the city’s aboriginal community to draw attention to justice issues around Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women.

The groups also held a sidewalk picket downtown Monday morning, and plan to wrap up events this evening with a march from Ellice Avenue and Home Street in the West End neighbourhood to the legislature, followed by a candlelight vigil.

Lamb’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 25.