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Young man gets life sentence in Standing Buffalo double murder

A young man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder has received a life sentence.

The man, who cannot be named because of a publication ban, has pleaded guilty to killing Jessica Redman and Sheldon Yuzicappi on the Standing Buffalo First Nation two and a half years ago.

At the time of the murders, the accused was 17 years old.

On Thursday, the court ruled that a youth sentence did not match the severity of the murders.

The sentence includes no chance of parole for seven years.

Kelly Kaip, the senior Crown prosecutor, said that the two victims were unarmed and killed during a home invasion.

"We certainly were shocked by the level of violence and brutality in this particular crime," Kaip said. "Certainly everybody should have the right to be safe in their own homes. That right was violated and we felt it was very important in these circumstances to have an adult sentence to address the harm caused."

Kaip hopes the decision will allow the families of the victims to move on with the healing process.

"They've shown quiet dignity and courage in approaching this very confusing process and they've done so in the face of having to do that while grieving and raising the children Sheldon and Jessica left behind," Kaip said.

Richard Yaholnitsky, the accused's lawyer, said the publication ban on the young man's name suggests the judge believes he has the potential to turn his life around.

"The judge ordered his name still not be published and I think that's because she realized he's still got a good chance for rehabilitation," Yaholnitsky said.

Two other men in their 20s pleaded guilty to murder charges this past November and also received life sentences.