Sask. jury delivers verdict in Katlim Dejarlais-Kelly murder trial

A 12-person jury has found a Saskatoon man not guilty of second-degree murder, but guilty to the lesser-offence of manslaughter. Laura Woodward reports.

A 12-person jury has found a Saskatoon man not guilty of second-degree murder, but guilty to the lesser-offence of manslaughter.

Katlim Desjarlais-Kelly, 23, was charged in the death of 48-year-old Arden Panipekeesick.

He was pronounced dead Feb. 10, 2024, inside his home on 238 Avenue K North.

Court heard the two men exchanged gunfire. A bullet struck Panipekeesick in the neck after passing through a door frame.

The central issue at trial was intent.

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The defence argued Desjarlais-Kelly acted in self-defence when he fired the gun. The Crown maintained he pulled the trigger with the intent to kill.

Desjarlais-Kelly — wearing a white dress shirt in the prisoner’s box — hung his head as the jury delivered its verdict Friday evening, after about 14 hours of deliberating.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of four years when a firearm is used.