The 17-year-old girl that stabbed Brett Wiese in the back two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, May 15.
The now 19-year-old Jazlyn Radke has been sentenced as an adult despite the fact that she was legally a minor at the time of the crime. She is eligible for parole after seven years.
Wiese was 20 the day he died at a house party in Calgary. Radke had returned to the home with a group of friends after initially being kicked out.
Wiese attempted to break up an altercation where he was subsequently stabbed several times by a man and in the back by Radke.
It was the stab in the back that killed Wiese.
The defence council’s request to sentence Radke as a youth was declined by Queen’s Bench Justice Charlene Anderson. She said Radke was the group leader of the events that transpired that evening and that a youth sentence would not be enough to hold the accused accountable.
For Brenda, Wiese’s mother, while there is some closure for the family, it will not get her son back.
“What went through my heart was a piece of relief,” said Brenda.
She and her family has sat through one trial and must now prepare for a second trial involving Mitchell Harkes this fall, the other accused in the incident of stabbing Wiese several times that night.
Brenda said they barely sat down when Anderson passed her judgment but for the next hour, Anderson explained the reasoning behind her decision. Part of that involved research in other cases, psychological evaluations and other factors.
“For us to close the door on this trial . . . that is a relief for us,” stated Wiese.
She said the family has spent over 40 days in court, partly due to the fact that they wanted Radke sentenced as an adult. Had Radke been sentenced as a youth, Brenda said her record would have been cleared after five years.
“This one has been particularly grueling because she is a youth,” she explained.
The family can now go back to honouring and remembering Wiese. Brenda said the Ponoka community has been a source of strength for the family and she is grateful to many residents for their support.
Indeed, Brenda says Anderson took into account the impact of the loss of Wiese’s life and how the community has rallied behind the family. “We were very proud that she (Anderson) took the time to acknowledge Ponoka.”
She added that she is proud her children have been able to be part of living in a small community. “They’ve (members of the community) got our back and they have really supported us.”
Had Radke been sentenced as a youth her name would not be allowed to be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The defence has appealed Anderson’s decision to sentence Radke as an adult.
Jason Van Rassel and Kevin Martin contributed to this report.