briscoe petition & round dance › nina louise courtepatte › deadmonton 2005 › deadmonton › edmonton

Disatisfied with the outcome of the Michael Erin Briscoe and Joseph Wesley Laboucan trial, Peacha Atkinson set herself up outside Edmonton's Law Courts Building on March 30th, 2007 with a new petition in hand.

Atkinson was calling on Provincial Justice Minister Ron Stevens to order an appeal of Michael Briscoe's acquittal.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Brian Burrows ruled that Briscoe was present during the rape and murder of Nina Courtepatte on April 3rd, 2005, but the Crown failed to prove he knew the attack was planned.

Atkinson felt that Briscoe still held some responsibility for Nina's death.

"[Briscoe] helped take away my daughter's life by not doing anything. He just kept quiet until he was caught."

Atkinson said she planned to personally deliver the petition to Stevens in his office.

"I'm a very forceful woman," she said. "I'll sit there until I see him."

"I would like the public to write to the newspapers, e-mail, write to the televisions and say how angry they are – plus sign the petition."

"How angry are you?" asked a reporter.

"You don't want to know."

What Atkinson herself might not want to know is what impact her petition may actually have.

CTV Edmonton contacted Sanjeev Anand, a University of Alberta law professor, who felt such a petition would have little impact on the chances of an appeal.

"The Crown will only appeal if there's an error of law that they feel is potentially one that needs to be reversed."

Anand's opinion was also shared by David Dear, a spokesman with Alberta Justice. Dear said the Crown was still considering whether or not it will appeal the acquittal.

He added petitions have no influence in the Crown's office or with the courts.

The next day, at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, 11205 101 Street, a round dance was held to remember Nina and other victims of violence.

"It's just to honour everybody and to know that we still remember them, we still love them, we still hurt for them, and that they can be with us here tonight," Peacha Atkinson explained.

She said Nina loved going to powwows and watching the aboriginal dancers perform in their traditional dress.

About three hundred people were expected, but over five hundred attended.

A feast of soup and bannock was provided, as well as a selection of foods loved by the young victims.

In attendance were two faces often seen at such gatherings.

Gary Hunt's 16-year-old son Josh, was fatally stabbed by a young offender at a Mill Woods house party on October 14th, 2006.

"Josh loved pepperoni pizza," Hunt recalled.

He brought 16 pepperoni pizzas for the feast. "One for every year of his life."

Hunt said the event was "a way of us coming together and celebrating their short lives."

Kelly Rolston, whose 17-year-old son Shane was beaten to death on November 19th, 2005 at a Sherwood Park house party, agreed.

"It means a lot," he said, wearing his familiar white hoodie that read 'Love You Always Shane' on the front and 'The Good Die Young' on the back.

"It all helps in the healing process."

The sentiment was echoed by Atkinson.

"If it happened to their family they would also want the support from the community. The memorial round dance means that Nina's spirit is dancing with me, talking with me, " she said.

The event was also another opportunity for people to sign Atkinson's petition calling for an appeal of Michael Briscoe's acquittal.

Atkinson said she didn't know exactly how many people had signed the petition but added the campaign was going well.

"If I have to I'll sit in the Minister of Justice's office until he sees me," she announced.

"If he doesn't see me that day I'll be back the next day and if he doesn't see me that day I'll be back the next day until he has enough of me."

"He'll see me. I'm persistent."

deadmonton 2005 - nina louise courtepatte - briscoe petition & round dance