Life sentence, no parole for seven years for 2019 Thompson slaying

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This article was published 18/01/2023 (1022 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the “horrific death” of a vulnerable woman in Thompson has been sentenced to life in prison.

The body of Bobbie Lynn Moose, 29, was found in an industrial area of the northern Manitoba city Oct. 17, 2019. One of Moose’s sisters had dropped the mother of two off at the local Walmart just over two weeks prior.

Jack Clarence Flett, 53, was initially charged with first-degree murder in July 2021.

On Monday, Court of King’s Bench Justice Gerald Chartier sentenced him to life without ability to apply for parole for seven years, based on a joint sentencing recommendation by Crown and defence lawyers.

Crown prosecutor Brent Davidson read out family victim-impact statements in court.

“She was a good mother, a good sister, a good cousin, a good friend,” Diane Moose wrote. “Bobbie will be in our hearts always, as she was loved by all these people, and also shared the love for her children.”

Davidson told court Monday of the facts of the case.

“(Moose) was the victim of what can only be described as a horrific death. For months, her family mourned; for months, a town sat on edge, flooded with calls for assistance,” said Davidson.

“The authorities utilized every means they could imagine to bring Bobbie’s killer to justice.”

Moose had suffered abrasions, contusions, a skull fracture and brain bleeds that caused swelling and, ultimately, her death, court heard, as well as damage to her genitalia.

Police collected an unknown male DNA sample from her body. That DNA was key to the case — and to the eventual manslaughter plea.

Court heard RCMP collected a sample voluntarily from Flett, who was living homeless in Thompson, in March 2021. The samples were matched in June that year.

Flett’s blood sugar could have been low when asked to give his DNA, which could have affected his decision-making, court heard. Mounties also asked him to sign a form outlining what could be done with his DNA, but Flett has poor vision and possibly wasn’t able to read it, court heard.

Police also didn’t inform him during a video-recorded part of an interview his DNA would be compared to samples found on Moose — though court heard he was told off camera.

That raised the spectre of the DNA being excluded as evidence.

“The consent sample was the entire case. Without it, he goes free. There would be no justice at all,” Davidson said.

Court heard Moose, who was from nearby Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, had at times struggled with homelessness while staying in Thompson.

“Regardless of the challenges that Bobbie faced throughout her life, I’ve come to learn that she was an incredibly generous and supportive of other people,” Davidson said.

Flett’s life and family were greatly impacted by residential schools, court heard. Both of his parents were survivors.

“He came from a home rife with both domestic violence and the consumption of alcohol. This combination of factors led to significant neglect… while he was growing up,” Davidson said.

Flett was physically and sexually abused while growing up in Split Lake First Nation, court heard.

He had been homeless and a panhandler since 40, with a severe addiction to alcohol. While intoxicated, he had a tendency for violence, court heard. He has shown little insight into his problems, according to a pre-sentence report.

“Mr. Flett, I urge you to use whatever help you can get to address the issues that you’ve struggled with all of your life, including the problems with alcohol and the problems with the anger that you recognize, that you exhibit, in particular when you consume alcohol,” Chartier said Monday.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera