BATTLEFORD – A man found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 57-year-old Roger Fabian Standingwater was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years.
A jury found Ivor Antoine Wapass guilty in February and he was sentenced Monday in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.
The Crown had argued that Wapass had killed Standingwater by stomping him on the head but the case was built on circumstantial evidence as there weren’t any eyewitnesses.
Defence had argued that the case lacked specifics and there was extensive speculation.
Wapass was arrested Nov. 1, 2019, by RCMP Major Crimes in connection to the death of Standingwater. According to Turtleford RCMP, police responded to a call of an unresponsive man on Sept. 15, 2018, at a home on Thunderchild First Nation. When police arrived, they found Standingwater in medical distress. EMS arrived and pronounced him deceased at the scene.
According to an obituary on Marshalls Funeral Home, Standingwater was raised on Thunderchild by his grandparents and his grandfather taught him how to hunt from an early age. Roger became a very skilled hunter and had many hunting stories to share with anyone who was willing to listen. He loved teaching his nephews how to hunt and took them hunting many times. He had three daughters that he loved dearly and was very proud of.
Standingwater didn’t have any sons and his three grandsons meant a great deal to him. Standingwater was a kind and friendly man who got along with everyone and loved to visit with friends and have a cup to tea. He took pride in his appearance, with his signature black jeans and white button up shirt, and he was exceptionally proud that he had no white hair. He was a strong man who spoke his mind but never stayed mad. He loved his Vicks Vapour Rub, it was like gold to him.
-With files by John Cairns
