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Vol. 16, No. 22, Wednesday, April 28, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
Mundare Fire and Emergency Response was called out to a farm fire Apr. 17. There was a lot of destruction during the fire where a 40 X 80 shop and other buildings and farm equipment were destroyed. The house on the property was saved, according to Chief Glenda Dales. Fire crews from Lamont and Andrew also answered the call to assist the Mundare Department.
Tearful Chipman killer gets five years in prison BY JOHN MATHER Raymond Nickerson, who was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of Jason Williams four years ago in Chipman has been sentenced to five years in prison. Nickerson was initially charged with two counts of second degree murder in the shooting deaths of Terry Sutton, 39, and Williams, 40, that began with a dispute over the setting off of fireworks in April 2017. Nickerson had testified during the trial, earlier this year, that he had shot the men in self defence. During sentencing both the prosecu-
tors and defence attorneys agreed Nickerson was remorseful for the shooting and quickly had turned himself in and allowed paramedics to tend to the victims who were both pronounced dead at the scene. Court of Queens Bench justice Eric Macklin said the situation was “fluid, dangerous and extremely dynamic.” He pointed out there had been a history of animosity between the two households and described it as a “rural version of the Hatfields and McCoys.” Defence Attorney Akram Attia argued Nickerson deserved the minimum, saying he posed no risk to the
community. He argued Nickerson acted in self-defence, and that there was evidence that the shot that killed Williams was an accidental discharge or an attempt to scare him away. Nickerson told the jury he believed Williams was armed. The weapon in question is believed to have been a pellet or airsoft gun, which police never located. Crown prosecutor Katrina Stewart Lund argued Nickerson deserved six to eight years in prison. She said the jury found Nickerson did not intend to kill Williams, but added, “this was an intentional pulling
of the trigger in a careless manner.” Stewart Lund also requested Nickerson be given a lifetime firearms ban. Attia requested the minimum ban of 10 years, which Macklin accepted. Nickerson apologized to the family in a tearful statement before Macklin passed sentence. “I am a father and a grandfather and I can’t imagine the pain you must feel – the loss, the anger, and the trauma that my actions that night have caused all of you,” Nickerson said. “I know I took two lives from you, and I know there’s nothing I can ever do or say that will bring them back.”