Shane Sutherland appears in court for first day of sentencing

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FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Case facts, victim impact statements and mitigating factors surrounding the death of Amanda Black were heard in Fort St. John Supreme Court Wednesday during Shane Sutherland’s first day of sentencing.

On Monday, Sutherland pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Black. He received the murder charge after Black was found dead at their home in Village St. John on February 8th, 2021.

The sentencing for second-degree murder is life imprisonment according to the Criminal Code of Canada.

The crown and defence attorneys put forth a joint submission case, asking for parole ineligibility for ten years and the mandatory life sentence.

Justice Lisa Warren will need to decide on the type of security prison Sutherland will be serving his sentence and how long he will be ineligible for parole.

On the night of February 8th, 2021, Black and Sutherland entered their home carrying shopping bags after Black had gone shopping with a friend, who stayed waiting in a car outside, the court heard Wednesday.

Starting between 7:28 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sutherland placed a short call to his mother and father, saying he had just killed Black. Following that call, Sutherland’s mother called 911.

Crown attorney Matthew Blow said Sutherland struck Black with a spike axe numerous times on her head and also stabbed her several times with a knife.

Sutherland and Black’s child was in a crib upstairs in their home at the time.

Members of the Fort St. John RCMP entered the residence at 7:39 p.m., where they found Black lying on her back with a plastic bag over her head and an axe protruding through the plastic bag.

A coroner’s report said Black’s injuries caused her death and included 12 chop wounds to her head, one stab wound to her upper lip and seven stab wounds to the chest.

The cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries and catastrophic brain injury, according to the report.

Blow also submitted other cases as examples of when the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a spouse and was subsequently ineligible for parole for ten years.

The hearing included 12 victim impact statements from Black’s friends and family, and Sutherland himself made a statement

Sutherland’s lawyer also submitted factors that would have been used in his defence if not for the guilty plea.

The court was adjourned for the day for the judge to review the documents submitted. A decision is expected to be made on Thursday at 2 p.m.