Second skatepark attacker pleads guilty

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This article was published 07/01/2022 (1539 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An Indigenous woman involved in a racially motivated attack against a Black man in downtown Brandon pleaded guilty to an assault charge in court Thursday morning.

Savannah Catagas, 22, was sentenced to one year of supervised probation for her role in the group attack on Kevin Taylor, which took place at the Kristopher Campbell Memorial Skate Plaza on Sept. 3, 2020.

In February 2021, another person involved in the skatepark attack, Freedom Williams, also pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 225 days time served in jail.

Unlike Williams, Catagas did not have a criminal record until her arrest 16 months ago, which is partially why Crown attorney Grant Hughes recommended a lighter sentence.

Annie Huntinghawk, Naomi Williams and Steven Jason Huntinghawk were also arrested and are all awaiting charges in connection to the incident.

After Catagas entered her guilty plea over the phone Thursday morning, Hughes provided Judge Donovan Dvorak with a detailed breakdown of what took place on the night of Sept. 3, 2020.

At around 7:40 p.m., the Brandon Police Service was called to the intersection of Ninth Street and Princess Avenue after receiving reports that a brawl had taken place between an Indigenous man, four Indigenous women and a Black man (Taylor).

Nearby witnesses later told police that the alleged attackers had been hurling racial slurs at Taylor before a fight broke out, with Steven Huntinghawk taking the lead.

“Taylor got the better of him and had him pinned down to the ground to stop him from further punching him,” Hughes said over the phone. “And at that time, Ms. Catagas, amongst others, started kicking and hitting Mr. Taylor and eventually another individual came and stabbed him.”

While Catagas did not stab Taylor, she eventually fled the scene with her fellow assailants, managing to evade the authorities for the time being.

Meanwhile, Taylor was quickly transported to hospital with a collapsed lung that was caused by multiple stab wounds. He survived and managed to make a full recovery.

Hughes then described how an intoxicated Catagas returned to the scene of the crime on Sept. 5, when she was eventually recognized by a patrolling police officer, arrested and lodged at BPS headquarters.

The following day, Catagas supplied a statement to BPS, describing her involvement in the group assault on Taylor.

“Ms. Catagas indicated that she did punch and kick Mr. Taylor to try and get him off [Huntinghawk],” Hughes said. “And then Naomi Williams stabbed Mr. Taylor.”

While Catagas denies hurling racial slurs at Taylor, she did admit in her statement that she verbally abused him before the physical attack took place.

Even though the 22-year-old declined to speak during her court appearance on Thursday, Hughes read from her statement that served as a direct apology to Taylor.

“I’m sorry I said anything to you that day. I didn’t mean to do it. I should have just walked away. I’m glad you’re alive.”

Hughes also admitted that investigators were unable to determine which one of the five assailants used racial slurs to instigate Taylor.

Defence lawyer Andrew McDonald used Catagas’ display of remorse and lack of a criminal history to argue that she should be given a conditional discharge, which means the guilty plea would not appear on her record.

“Ms. Catagas has no criminal record. She has been on bail for a significant period of time and there have been no allegations of re-involvement,” McDonald said.

“So we submit that this lack of recidivism, this lack of any criminal behaviour is consistent with somebody who is probably not going to be re-involved with the criminal justice system and would benefit from a discharge.”

McDonald went on to talk about how Catagas’ bad decision-making on Sept. 3, 2020, stems from a lifetime of trauma that is still impacting her to this day.

Growing up on the Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation near Roblin, McDonald describes how Catagas witnessed family violence at a young age, including an incident where her brother killed her father.

“This is a traumatic event for anybody, but it’s certainly significant in a small community in a family like hers that rips them apart,” the defence lawyer said.

McDonald revealed that Catagas eventually left Tootinaowaziibeeng at the age of 17 after her home burned down and has been living in Brandon ever since.

Having dropped out of school in Grade 10 due to anxiety issues, Catagas fell into addiction to try and deal with her ongoing mental health problems, McDonald added.

“Those factors contribute directly to her abusing substances, her associating with a negative peer group, and they lead directly to the event that is before the court today,” he said.

Dvorak ultimately ruled in favour of the Crown’s recommendation and sentenced Catagas to one year of supervised probation.

While Catagas isn’t being charged with public incitement of hatred, Dvorak said he couldn’t ignore the ugly nature of the assault she was involved in, especially given its proximity to a rise in racially motivated hate crimes across Canada and the United States.

“The fact is that [you] may not have been the person saying racist, hurtful remarks … but in reality, when you’re in an atmosphere or circumstances or surroundings when racial comments are being used, followed by violence, and you become involved in that violence as well, in essence you are adopting the hate that that person has been expressing,” he said.

Dvorak finished his ruling by outlining the conditions of Catagas’ probation, which includes her not being able to contact Taylor or be within 100 metres of him.

The judge also specified that Catagas must complete 25 hours of community service within the next nine months.

“Because this was an offence against Mr. Taylor, but it was an offence against the public as well,” he said.

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