Self-defence or intent to kill? Sask. lawyers make final arguments to jury

Inside a Saskatoon courtroom, lawyers made their final arguments in the death of Arden Panipekeesick. Laura Woodward reports.

Inside a Saskatoon courtroom, lawyers made their final arguments in a murder trial.

Katlim Desjarlais-Kelly, 23, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Arden Panipekeesick, 48.

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

The crux of the case is intent. The defence argues Desjarlais-Kelly fired in self-defence. The Crown submits Desjarlais-Kelly pulled the trigger to kill.

“Mr. Desjarlais-Kelly intentionally shot Mr. Panipekeesick and knew that it would cause bodily harm that would lead to death,” Crown prosecutor Lee Hnatiuk told the jury.

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A bullet hit Panipekeesick in the neck after an exchange of gunfire between the two men, court heard. The bullet passed through a door frame before hitting him.

“That wasn’t a targeted shot. That was a ricochet through a particle of a door jamb,” defence lawyer Patrick MacDougall said.

“That’s a miracle shot that it hit him in the neck — not a good miracle, but it’s a miracle shot.”

MacDougall pointed to Desjarlais-Kelly’s testimony that he was “fearful he would be shot again.”

The Crown rejected that claim.

Hnatiuk argued Desjarlais-Kelly’s choice to return to the home after the initial gunfight, to fire again, showed intent.

“It was not his home. He was only a guest. Had he just left the home, Mr. Panipekeesick would still be alive,” Hnatiuk said.

The 12 jurors began deliberating at around 4:30 p.m.

The jury may return a verdict of not guilty, guilty of second-degree murder, or guilty of the lesser-included offence of manslaughter.