Warning: this story contains distressing details.
The family of Melissa Bear say the manslaughter sentenced handed to the man who killed the pregnant mother “is a slap on the wrist.”
Bear, 33, was eight months pregnant with a daughter when she was killed in Saskatoon on Aug. 29, 2023.
Police were called to Bear’s home at 1102 St. Paul’s Place. Bear died later that same day in hospital. Within days, police began searching for 33-year-old Cary Daniel Bluebell.
Bluebell was already charged with assaulting Bear on Aug. 16, 2023. Bluebell had also been ordered by the court to have no contact with her. He was supposed to appear in provincial court on the day she died.
“My families lives have been forever altered by the horrific loss of domestic violence,” Melissa’s aunt, Andrea Naytowhow, wrote in an email to CBC.
“I strongly believe that Melissa fell through the cracks of our justice system as there has always been a history where our First Nations peoples have a lack of trust and equality and fairness stemming from systemic racism within our justice system. There was no justice served today.”
Naytowhow said Bluebell should have also been charged with killing Melissa’s unborn daughter.
Andrea Naytowhow, Melissa Bear’s aunt, says justice has not been served. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)
Bluebell had been charged with second-degree murder, but pleaded guilty in provincial court this week to manslaughter. An agreed statement of facts said, “At the time Cory stabbed Melissa, he was in an advanced state of intoxication, and did not form the specific intent to kill Melissa.”
The statement said Bluebell was at Bear’s home the day of the fatal assault, and had been drinking whisky and doing meth. Bear went out to find cigarettes for Bluebell and returned with two men who had more meth for him, the statement said.
“When asked about how he was feeling when Melissa came back to the house with two guys, he responded: ‘How do you think? How would anyone else feel? It’s not rocket science. What does your mind tell you?'” the statement said.
“When asked ‘how did you feel when she was screaming for you to stop.’ He responded, ‘Feel ugly about that.’ ‘Obviously I’m not a good person.'”
Bear’s family filled the court room Thursday for Bluebell’s sentencing, wearing red t-shirts that said “Justice for Melissa -n- Baby Bear.”
Support is available for anyone affected by intimate partner violence. In Saskatchewan, www.pathssk.org has listings of available services across the province. You can access support services and local resources in Canada by visiting this website. If your situation is urgent, please contact emergency services in your area.