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The first witness revealed new details about the September, 2022 killings on the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon during the second day of a coroner’s inquest.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Robin Zentner began an exhaustive presentation Monday, detailing what Myles and Damien Sanderson were up to in the days and hours leading up to the killings.
Zentner started Tuesday with a short video detailing the movements of the brothers.
He said there is no evidence the drug-fueled “mission” Myles and Damien were on was directed by anyone but themselves. Zentner added that behavioural sciences found Myles had it out for anyone he thought was associated with the Terror Squad, a criminal gang.
Day 2 of the James Smith inquest is about to begin pic.twitter.com/XrVZgqu9RC
— Lisa Schick (@LMSchickler) January 16, 2024
Though there was some confusion on this point initially, police later confirmed Damien Sanderson was the first one murdered after forensics processed his blood-stained clothing.
RCMP believe Myles stabbed Damien in the van Myles was driving. Damien got out and ran along the shoulder and into the long grass, where his body was found the next day.
Family members in the auditorium began weeping when two photos of Damien’s body were shown, illustrating where he was found and why it took so long to find him. Zentner assured the families that those were the only graphic images in his presentation. The tears continued flowing in the hallways of the auditorium during the lunch hour.
On Monday, lawyer Keith Brown, co-counsel for the James Smith Cree Nation, said excluding graphic information was part of what the First Nation requested, and the coroner’s office cooperated by adopting a trauma-informed approach.
“That decision was made with the aim of attempting to ensure minimal re-traumatization of victims, of family members, of people like that,” explained Brown.
Listen: Senior reporter Lisa Schick provides an update from the inquest
Once Zentner’s testimony is complete, lawyers will have a chance to ask questions.
First up will be the counsel for the coroner, then counsel for the Ministry of Justice, followed by counsel for the James Smith Cree Nation, family members, RCMP and Corrections Canada.
Jurors will then be able to ask any questions they might have.
Zentner is the first of approximately 30 witnesses expected to testify at the inquest, which is expected to be the largest ever held in Saskatchewan.
With files from Lisa Schick.
More to come.