People are gathering in Saskatoon, Regina and other Canadian cities Saturday to show their support for the family of Colten Boushie after Gerald Stanley, a Saskatchewan farmer, was acquitted Friday of responsibility for Boushie's death.
"There is no justice!" yelled people in the courtroom after the jury foreman read out the verdict Friday night. Moments earlier, the presiding judge had urged calm despite the "raw emotions" felt by those in the room.
Stanley, 56, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of the 22-year-old. Boushie and four others from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation drove onto Stanley's property on Aug. 9, 2016. After an altercation with Stanley, his son and wife, Boushie was shot in the head.
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The jury had been deliberating over its verdict for just over 24 hours, though the actual amount of private discussion time was much shorter than that, given breaks and the several hours spent in court Friday relistening to nearly four hours of testimony from Stanley and his son Sheldon.
Rallies all over Canada
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde will hold a news conference at the First Nations University of Canada Regina campus Saturday at 10 a.m. CST to discuss the verdict.
At least a dozen rallies in support of the Boushie family will follow throughout Canada, in cities like Toronto, Winnipeg, St. John's and Yellowknife.
Saturday rallies, organized under a 'Justice for Colten' banner, are happening throughout Canada in cities including Toronto, Winnipeg, St. John's and Yellowknife. (Justice for Colten)
Supporters will gather at Regina's Court of Queen's Bench courthouse at 11 a.m. CST. Stanley had been tried in the Battleford, Sask., Court of Queen's Bench.
A rally will then take place at Saskatoon's Court of Queen's Bench courthouse.
"In honour of the late Colten (Coco) Boushie, we will gather in Saskatoon/Treaty 6 Territory to show solidarity and support for the Boushie and Baptiste family," reads the event page on Facebook.
"Bring drums and signs. Expect elders and children in attendance."
Case's closing arguments
Stanley and his defence attorney, Scott Spencer, said the gun held by Stanley fired accidentally on delay, in what is referred to as "hang fire." Spencer has not issued any comment on the verdict yet.
Gerald Stanley leaves the Court of Queen's Bench in Battleford, Sask., Friday night after a jury delivered a verdict of not guilty of killing 22-year-old Colten Boushie. (Liam Richards/Canadian Press)
Crown prosecutor Bill Burge said Stanley intentionally pulled the trigger and lied about the events that led to that moment.
Expert witnesses said the gun, which had Boushie's DNA on it, was working properly and that the trigger had to be pulled in order for the gun to go off.
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