Lennox Island man sentenced to 4 years in death of his cousin Jamie Sark
Christopher Sark, 33, of Lennox Island, P.E.I., was sentenced to 4 years in jail Friday for manslaughter within the demise of his cousin.
The sentencing determination comes practically a yr and a half after Jamie Sark, 28, first went lacking on Lennox Island in August, 2021.
After a protracted search by household, associates, and police, his physique was present in a wooded space of the First Nation off P.E.I.’s North Shore in November of 2021.
Christopher Sark pleaded responsible to manslaughter in Jamie Sark’s demise in mid-September.
Relations mentioned Friday that the four-year sentence isn’t lengthy sufficient, provided that they and others in the neighborhood are nonetheless fighting closure round Sark’s demise.
“I am glad we received Jamie house and we received that a part of the closure. However for this a part of the sentencing? There is no such thing as a closure. It is unfair. Unjust,” mentioned Jamie’s mom, Joyce Sark, exterior the Summerside courtroom.
“You are taking a life, you solely do 4 years? That is actually unfair to me and my household and different individuals round.”
Jamie Sark’s sister Kelly was additionally on the courtroom and mentioned she was nonetheless making an attempt to course of the sentencing determination.
“It is simply exhausting to cope with. It is exhausting to consider. Understanding that my brother’s gone endlessly, I do not suppose I am going to ever heal from this, ever,” mentioned Kelly Sark.
“I am misplaced for phrases for the sentencing that he received. However there’s nothing we will do about it proper now. So, simply gotta transfer ahead and maintain working exhausting to resolve the remainder of the case.”
Joyce Sark has mentioned the household believes different individuals had been concerned in hiding and transferring Jamie’s stays, however no different prices have been laid.
The Crown prosecutor has mentioned police had been unable to search out proof that anybody else was current throughout the demise of Jamie Sark or concerned in transferring his physique.
4 years is an applicable sentence on this case, mentioned Christopher Sark’s lawyer, Trish Cheverie.
“It is a manslaughter sentence. That is essentially the most vital level that I feel individuals want to know. It means he unintentionally prompted the demise of his buddy and his cousin,” mentioned Cheverie.
Police couldn’t decide Jamie Sark’s reason behind demise, and the truth that Christopher Sark pleaded responsible was vital, mentioned Cheverie.
“To prosecute a manslaughter or a homicide with out reason behind demise would have been subsequent to inconceivable from our perspective. I gave that recommendation to my shopper as I am sure to do,” she mentioned.
“He insisted that he wished to take duty for inflicting [Jamie’s] demise, as a result of he felt he was the reason for his demise. So to me, that provides a unprecedented stage of significance to the responsible plea.”
It is essential for the general public witnessing this case to know the psychology behind lateral violence in Indigenous communities, mentioned Cheverie.
“I’ve labored for 30 years in the neighborhood in Lennox Island. I’ve had contact with each of those households for 3 generations now, and I’ve seen the impacts and the aggravation of these impacts over time, when individuals do not get the assistance they want,” she mentioned.
“I hope the general public understands this case is a mirrored image of the tragedy of colonialism, actually, of our duty to do higher, to assist extra, to attempt to assist heal these communities throughout the nation.”
