‘One wrong turn’: Court hears sentencing arguments in ‘Ed’ Swift killing

James 'Ed' Swift (Source: Facebook.com/robingravez)

Two men convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the killing of James “Ed” Swift will have to wait until the end of the month to learn their fate.

The court heard sentencing arguments from the Crown and both defence lawyers Tuesday at Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench. The Crown argued for a sentence of 10 to 12 years, with defence lawyers arguing for sentences of four and five years for Colton Lischka and Ashtin Ritzand in a case described as unique.

“It’s about responsibility, and it’s always a difficult thing to try to put a number on something like this because it’s no in no way a reflection of Mr. Swift’s life or what that value is,” Ritzand’s defence lawyer Blaine Beaven said outside the court.

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On Aug. 22, 2022, Swift and his friend Virginia Belhumeur were stabbed multiple times when a dispute over cocaine erupted into violence in the early morning hours. Belhumeur was left tending to Swift at the side of a rural road just outside city limits.

Swift ultimately died of his injuries, while Belheumeur was able to flag down a passing vehicle.

The group met coincidentally hours earlier in an off-sale parking lot. A third man named Anthony Burley, who has since been sentenced, was also there. That evening there was a dispute when Swift accused Burley of backing his vehicle into him. The group ultimately ended up making amends, drinking together, and then later going to buy cocaine.

The court heard the main point of contention as the group drove on the outskirts of Saskatoon near Penner Road and Rural Road 3050 was over who was holding the cocaine which Swift largely paid for.

Once Burley allegedly took possession of the cocaine, Swift was enraged.

Justice Michael Tochor ruled in November there were too many unknowns in the story, downgrading second degree murder charges to manslaughter and aggravated assault, and also forcing the court to treat the case as if neither man was being sentenced as the person who stabbed Swift.

The defence argued both men did not plan the killing and took a wrong turn returning from a home where they bought the cocaine where the argument ultimately escalated.

In a statement from Ritzand, read by his lawyer, he said “one wrong turn can alter the trajectory of countless lives.”

“There can be an infinite variety of circumstances that are involved in a manslaughter conviction,” Lischka’s defence lawyer Nicholas Stooshinoff said. “But in this case, our clients were not the stabbers.”

Belhumeur, who was stabbed multiple times in her neck, read a victim impact statement Monday, saying she lives in constant fear.

“Something serious has changed within me as a result of this incident,” she said.

“I hope I’m able to fix or change back as I cannot continue to live like this. This incident will haunt me in some way for the rest of my life.”

Belhumeur went on to say the only place she feels safe is at her therapist’s office and how her constant fear of everything is taking a toll on her.

Beaven argued for Ritzand to serve a total of seven years — split between time in jail and time served in the community — for his crimes. Beaven argued Ritzand should serve a conditional sentence order of just under two years for his aggravated assault and two more years on probation. For manslaughter, Beaven asked for a five-year sentence, which amounts to time served, given his remand credit.

Stooshinoff argued for a sentence of four years for manslaughter and a two-year sentence for aggravated assault, to be served concurrently.

A sentencing decision is scheduled for Jan. 30.