Woman convicted of murder despite claim she blacked out

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/01/2024 (975 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg woman who stabbed a man 46 times struck out on her claim that she was so intoxicated she couldn’t inform the intent to kill him.

Skylynn Autumn Elizabeth Keeper, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying of Arnel Deleon Arabe in an East Kildonan apartment on Oct. 3, 2021. The 63-year-old was a friend with whom she would hang out and use cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Sarah Inness issued her written decision this week.

Keeper had pleaded not guilty despite admitting to killing Arabe. She testified she did not intend to cause his death and was intoxicated by alcohol, cocaine and mushrooms. She claimed Arabe had attacked her and she blacked out. When she regained consciousness, the victim was dead on his bed.

Defence lawyer Tony Kavanagh argued Keeper should be convicted of manslaughter after telling court Keeper had a poor recollection of what had happened.

Arabe was found dead in bed in the apartment he shared with his brother on Prevette Street near Munroe Avenue, after the caretaker’s husband called for police while noticing the door was ajar and blood was on the handle.

Winnipeg police officers found Arabe dead, with numerous knife wounds, and blood throughout the apartment.

They seized four knives from the apartment, one of which was blood-stained and located near Arabe. One of the knife wounds was to the jugular artery in his neck.

His car, which was parked in the building’s lot, had a smashed-in driver’s window and blood stains on parts of it.

Keeper was arrested three days later.

Arabe’s sister, Mariet Ugot, had testified her brother and Keeper were at a party at her apartment on William Avenue on the night before his death.

Ugot testified the two of them drank alcohol and went outside to smoke. The pair left just after midnight and neither appeared drunk, she told court.

Keeper testified they picked up cocaine and psychedelics after the party, which she consumed back at his apartment while continuing to drink alcohol.

Inness wrote that during cross-examination, Keeper did not answer many of the questions, swore at the Crown attorney and said she was confused.

She claimed on the stand that Arabe assaulted her at length in the apartment, punching and kicking her, before she blacked out.

Crown prosecutor Manoja Moorthy argued that Keeper’s assertion she had been attacked made no sense and was inconsistent with her lack of observable injuries and the fact she told police she hadn’t been hurt.

Kavanagh argued there was evidence of her being assaulted considering cuts on her hand and fingers.

Keeper told court she was an alcoholic and drug addict.

The judge wrote that she was struck by Keeper’s testimony and was left with an impression that she did remember what happened but was withholding evidence.

Arabe and Keeper were seen on surveillance cameras entering his apartment building just before 1 a.m. When Keeper left just before 7 a.m., blood stains were visible on her jacket and a box of beer was under her arm.

Inness wrote that she did not accept Keeper’s testimony and that the Crown proved she could have foreseen she would likely kill Arabe by stabbing him.

A pre-sentence report will be completed ahead of submissions from the Crown and defence on how long Keeper should serve before being eligible for parole.

The minimum sentence for second-degree murder is life without parole for 10 years.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca