REGINA – In May, Justice Jennifer Pritchard heard differing views on the young man who murdered 16-year-old Hannah Leflar, the 19-year-old said to suffer from depression and other effects of a troubled childhood. \u00a0But, as determined by the Queen\u2019s Bench judge, neither depression nor immaturity rested at the heart of Skylar Prockner\u2019s crime; rather, the judge found Prockner acted out of jealousy and anger when he plotted Hannah\u2019s death, invaded her home after school and stabbed her to death on the floor of the bedroom shared by her mother and stepfather.<\/p>\n
A sentencing hearing for Prockner concluded on Wednesday with Pritchard\u2019s decision to sentence the young man as an adult for first-degree murder. She subsequently lifted the publication ban on his name, previously protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.<\/p>\n
A courtroom packed to standing room only \u2014 mainly with Hannah\u2019s family and friends \u2014 erupted in cheers and applause as Pritchard announced her decision and handed Prockner the mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 10 years. While the 10-year period begins on the date of his arrest, there is no guarantee he will be granted parole once that initial period is up.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Prockner\u2019s family shouted that they loved him, one yelling, \u201cUnfair sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like Hannah, Prockner was just 16 at the time of the stabbing, court having heard he couldn\u2019t cope with the fact she\u2019d broken up with him the year before. The Crown provided details of Prockner\u2019s instability in the months that followed, which included stalking behaviour, online talk of killing Hannah and a plan dubbed Project Zombify intended to target her then-boyfriend \u2014 and her as well, if she happened to show up.<\/p>\n
While Zombify didn\u2019t come to pass, Hannah having broken up with that boy, Prockner\u2019s final straw came when, in January 2015, he saw a photo on social media of Hannah with a new boyfriend.<\/p>\n
Court heard Prockner recruited a friend and the two waited outside Hannah\u2019s home until she returned from school. Once inside, Prockner stabbed Hannah multiple times \u2014 an act Pritchard said was clearly intended to result in the girl\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Crown prosecutor Chris White argued for an adult sentence, presenting Prockner as a \u201ccold, calculating individual\u201d who viewed his ex-girlfriend not as a person, but as a thing that stood in the way of his happiness.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, defence counsel James Struthers and Corinne Maeder said the maximum youth sentence of 10 years would be sufficient to hold their client to account and provide rehabilitation and public protection.<\/p>\n
Pritchard disagreed.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Psychiatrist Dr. Brent) Harold concluded that Skylar would require extensive psychological intervention over a lengthy period of time and even then may not be successful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Pritchard also sided with Harold\u2019s findings over those of other mental health experts when it came to views on Prockner\u2019s level of maturity, referencing his pre- and post-offence activities and the deliberate nature of the killing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis murder was not the result of a despondent adolescent acting out childhood fantasies as suggested by (another of the doctors),\u201d she said, finding it rather came down to the \u201cindependent determination and decision-making of Skylar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAscribing Skylar\u2019s actions on Jan. 12, 2105 to immaturity or depression simply does not provide a convincing rationale for his behaviour,\u201d she added. \u201cJealousy and anger do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pritchard observed, in her view, that depression typically \u201cdrains\u201d the sufferer rather than \u201crevs them up to commit this type of cruel \u2026 bloody, hands-on, first-degree murder that we have here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The judge took a moment at the start of her decision to address Hannah\u2019s loved ones, noting no decision could ever \u201cchange the devastating reality that is now your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
And at the end, she addressed Prockner, speaking of the suicide he previously threatened in the event of an adult sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuicide is a permanent answer to a temporary situation \u2026,\u201d she said. \u201cChange is possible if you really want it and you commit to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After court, Hannah\u2019s mother Janet Leflar expressed relief at the sentence and the fact Prockner can now be publicly identified.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there are no winners today,\u201d she added. \u201cNobody won anything. She\u2019s still gone. So it\u2019s a hollow victory but it\u2019s a victory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Numerous family members, including Hannah\u2019s parents and stepparents, have been present for most, if not all, court appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this is the last thing that I get to do for my daughter, then I\u2019m going to do it,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n
A similar hearing is slated for the fall for a second youth who pleaded guilty to playing a role in the murder.<\/p>\n
By Heather Polischuk<\/p>\n
Source: \u00a0cnews.canoe.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"