A Vernon woman was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a 麻豆精选 Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 5.
Lynda Saundry was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Barry Jones in July 2020 at his residence on Okanagan Indian Band land.
On just day two, of what was supposed to be a 20-day trial, Saundry entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Crown Counsel, in partnership with the defence, recommended to the judge a sentence of 10 years minus time served.
It was determined that Saundry shot at Jones twice, the first grazing his leg and the second hitting him in the torso. The judge found that although Saundry was intentionally loading a cartridge into the gun used to shoot Jones when the gun fired a third time. The third shot was not intentional.
Saundry is to serve the remaining 1,682 days, approximately four-and-a-half years, behind bars. She has also been ordered to provide a DNA sample for the courts and will have a lifetime prohibition on owning a firearm.
Jones鈥檚 niece Tammy Jones was one of a number of friends and family in the courthouse as the decision came down.
鈥淭he biggest thing is that we have some closure,鈥� Tammy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really hard almost four years of coming back and forth to the courts.鈥�
Tammy was only about seven years younger than her uncle. She described him as funny and a loved member of the Okanagan Indian Band.
鈥淚 think the important thing out of all this is that my uncle is recognized for who he was and the importance he held within the community.鈥�
READ MORE: First witness called in North Okanagan murder trial
