The trial of Gerald Stanley, a farmer in northern Saskatchewan, over the shooting death of Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree from the Red Pheasant First Nations (an Indigenous community) has stirred much discussion, most focused on the alleged racial nature of the events. Stanley was acquitted by the all non-Indigenous jury. This has given rise to protests calling for “Justice for Colten” and a number of politicians, including the Prime Minister, making statements generally critical of the verdict.
Although some of the events that took place are not clear (contradictions in statements by witnesses from both sides), several issues have not been raised publicly:
- What was Stanley’s frame of mind when he shot Boushie?
- Was Boushie the innocent young man who wanted to become a firefighter that has been portrayed by the press?
- What would be the repercussions of a “guilty” verdict?
Continue reading “The verdict in the Gerald Stanley Case was (probably) Correct”