SASKATOON, Sask. — A 23-year-old man convicted of the fatal shooting of Arden Panipekeesick has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Justice Krista L. Zerr sentenced Katlim Desjarlais-Kelly in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench on Oct. 1 to eight years for manslaughter and one year consecutive for a firearms charge. A jury found him guilty earlier this year on the manslaughter charge and in August he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while prohibited.
Desjarlais-Kelly had been in custody since Feb. 10, 2024, and received credit for time spent on remand, leaving about five years remaining on his sentence.
During his sentencing hearing in August, court heard that on Feb. 10, 2024, Panipekeesick, 48, was shot inside a west side home. The home contained drugs, guns and gang members that morning.
Crown prosecutor Lee Hnatiuk said Desjarlais-Kelly was at the house to provide fentanyl to the occupants. He was on a firearms prohibition at the time but brought a loaded firearm. Hnatiuk said Desjarlais-Kelly fired at close range, placing several people at risk.
The Crown sought a 10-year sentence for manslaughter plus one year consecutive for the firearms offence.
Defence lawyer Patrick McDougall had argued for a seven-year sentence on the manslaughter conviction, plus one year on the weapons charge.
He said the victim was a gang member, the house was a "trap house," and Desjarlais-Kelly had been shot in that same house by the victim.
