Kyle Byron Straight was once warned by a judge that if he didn’t take advantage of the supports available to him in federal prison, he’d be back in court in no time.
Now, he’s sitting behind bars, waiting for his next court date on a manslaughter charge, in the slaying of 29-year-old Norma Jean Sumner, a woman he didn’t know. Police say the two had been involved in an altercation as they both walked on Balmoral Street early June 23.
Sumner, who was from Dauphin River First Nation but had been living in Winnipeg, was taken to hospital, where she died.
Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said the victim and suspect had been walking in the area separately, when they came across each other and exchanged words, before briefly parting.
Michalyshen alleged that Straight escalated the confrontation and attacked the victim, leaving her for dead.
Straight, 23, was picked up by Winnipeg police Wednesday.
In April 2022, provincial court was told Straight has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and an impulse-control problem, but had rejected the supports and programming offered to him by justice officials.
Straight was sentenced for assaulting a peace officer and dangerous driving, impaired driving and motor vehicle flight. He had pleaded guilty and had asked his lawyer that he be sentenced to federal prison, rather than provincial jail, to try a new corrections system.
Crown prosecutor Paul Girdlestone told court Straight spat in the face of a corrections officer at Milner Ridge provincial jail in September 2021 — something he had repeatedly done in the past in other jails — after his radio was knocked over while guards searched his cell.
Girdlestone said the driving offences had occurred on Nov. 4, 2022, on the Brokenhead First Nation, of which Straight is a member.
He had consumed a 750ml bottle of hard liquor and got into an argument with his brother. Band security was called after he drove off, the prosecutor said.
The security officer called for RCMP, who tried to stop him, but he instead drove around them in a loop at high speed, at one point driving at an officer’s vehicle.
Straight jumped out of the moving vehicle and Mounties handcuffed him.
Girdlestone said Straight has significant impairments of attention, language, cognition, executive function and adaptive behaviour. He was classified as a “very high risk to reoffend.”
“The reports give rise to a real concern that Mr. Straight, without proper supports, will continue to commit offences that bring him to court,” said Girdlestone.
Straight had told officials he would not co-operate with any supports, apart from a case plan.
Straight was instead seeking time in federal prison, which his lawyer hoped would allow him access to better programming, and for officials to better prepare supports in the community when he was to be released.
Defence lawyer Bradley Erratt told court Straight had no contact with his father’s family, while his mother had long-term substance abuse issues.
He’d been in and out of child welfare and corrections for most of his youth, Erratt said.
Judge Mary Kate Harvie, who admonished Straight for not giving court officials “much to work with,” agreed to sentence him to federal prison. He received a sentence of two years, was banned from driving for three years and had to hand over his DNA to law enforcement.
She said she hoped he would take advantage of the supports offered to him.
“If you don’t take it, you’ll be back,” the judge said. “Take advantage of the help people want to give you, that’s my advice.”
Although corrections officials believe Straight is a gang member, and Winnipeg police classify him as someone who’s known to associate with gangs, his gang status is not believed to be relevant to Sumner’s slaying.
Police spokesman Michalyshen said Straight is known to police and often carries weapons.
“This is obviously an individual that has caused a lot of issues in our community,” said Michalyshen. “He’s in custody and our community is safer for it.”
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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