THUNDER BAY - The two teens charged with murder in the 2021 death of Liam Slipperjack have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Desomond Keewaykapow, 21, and a youth who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest have both pleaded guilty to manslaughter during a hearing held in December.
The charges relate to an incident in the Limbrick Street area during the early morning hours of April 30, 2021.
Officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to reports of an assault in the area. Arriving officers located an injured male later identified as Slipperjack, 18.
The 18-year-old had suffered serious injuries from a recent assault and was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for treatment. He succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Keewaykapow was arrested and first charged with aggravated assault, but upon Slipperjack's passing the charge was upgraded to second-degree murder.
The 17-year-old youth was arrested several days later on May 3, 2021 and also charged with second-degree murder.
Following the guilty plea, Keewaykapow was sentenced to just under 5.5 years in custody to be followed by 24 months of probation. With pre-sentence custody credited at 1,440 days, Keewaykapow will serve an additional 567 days.
Keewaykapow is also required to submit a DNA sample and is subject to a 10-year weapons prohibition.
On Monday, Keewakapow also pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting a peace officer and one count of uttering threats. The charges relate to incidents involving corrections officers while he was in custody throughout 2021.
Keewakapow was sentenced to four months to be served consecutive to the sentence on the manslaughter charge.
The youth who pleaded guilty to manslaughter will be sentenced later this year.
