Vernon woman sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter

Madam Justice Alison Beames agreed with the submission, and with time served, Leavins will spend another six years and four months in prison. She must also provide a DNA sample and is banned from owning firearms or other weapons for life.

A co-accused was declared unfit to stand trial, and a ban on the publication of his name was issued by the court, should he be declared fit to be tried at a later date. The use of his initials, RWF or Leavins’s boyfriend, have been permitted for publication.

The court heard that in the weeks leading up to the killing on July 18, 2017, Leavins, her boyfriend and Bartz had a volatile drug and alcohol fueled relationship, with Leavins having a sexual relationship with both men.

Leading up to the day of the homicide, witnesses reported seeing Bartz with multiple injuries as a result of being stabbed in the legs and head for what Bartz said was retaliation from RWF for “sleeping with his woman.”

On the day of the homicide, Leavins and her boyfriend had a nasty fight, following which she broke a window of his house, slashed his bike tires and discharged pepper spray inside his residence. She then intentionally provoked RWF, taunting him that Bartz was a better lover, knowing he would assault Bartz, causing him serious physical harm.

The following morning a friend of Bartz went to his apartment but no one answered. Following no response to a phone call, he entered the apartment and saw blood splattered everywhere, located Bartz body and called 9-1-1 at about 11:30 a.m.

RCMP arrived at 11:42 a.m. and found the apartment with blood on the walls, ceiling and floors in multiple rooms. Bartz was found deceased in the kitchen with what one officer described “as dozens of big wounds and open cuts over his upper torso.”

Police recovered a machete and a golf club with the shaft shortened.

A forensic report indicated Bartz had been attacked while standing, kneeling and laying on the floor.

An autopsy report detailed a litany of injuries, including 23 puncture wounds around the victims neck, multiple other chops and stab wounds, multiple broken bones, and blunt force trauma to his skull. A toxic amount of methamphetamine was found in Bartz’s blood stream.

DNA and footprints found in the blood spatter linked both accused to the scene.

Leavins told the court she followed RWF to the apartment after provoking him, and found him hitting Bartz with a hammer. She went into another room, but could hear the attack continuing. At some point her boyfriend handed her the machete and told her to clean-up the place, then left. She sat on the bed for a while and then also left without doing anything.

Leavins and the co-accused were arrested and charged in October of 2018.

The court also heard the Bartz was considered vulnerable as a result of brain and leg injury suffered after being hit by a car earlier in life.

Victim impact statements were given by the victims mother, brother and sister.

“It”s like an never ending horror movie, of him being chopped up alive, that is the image I carry,” his mother Elsie Realini said in a statement read by her niece. The 75-year-old has also suffered three serious falls which resulted in broken bones and hospitalization, which she attributes to isolation and the psychological impact of her son’s death.

Leavins, a member of the Saskatchewan Pasqua First Nation was raised in a climate of alcoholism and violence, linked to generational trauma from immediate relatives abuse in residential schools. Her mother was murdered when Leavins was six years old. She was put in foster care, followed by adoption, which beget more physical abuse, sexual abuse and racism. When her sister disclosed the sexual abuse by her adoptive grandfather, she was kicked out of the home, and ended up on the street.

The court heard she was an alcoholic by age 19 and addicted to crack cocaine by 24. She suffered additional trauma as a sex trade worker, also giving birth to 11 children, one of whom is deceased, one adopted and nine others she has no contact with.

Leavins broke down several times while hearing the details of the crime, and read an emotional apology to Bartz and his family.

Madame Justice Beams noted the “significant and remarkable” rehabilitation since the accused was incarcerated and her “profound and genuine remorse” for her part in Bartz’s death.

by Kevin Rothwell

Vernon woman sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter

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