A B.C. Supreme Court Justice agreed to a joint submission in sentencing a woman to time served for an attack in a Quesnel motel room on another woman who died the next day but likely from injuries suffered prior to the altercation.
In a June 11 decision, Justice Heather MacNaughton noted Nadina Solonas told medical personnel that the injuries to her left cheek and eye predated her confrontation Oct. 1, 2017 with Dawn Georgette Gunanoot and that she had been "getting beaten on too much lately."
While Gunanoot was arrested and later charged with breaking and entering and assault, Solonas was taken into custody for breaching a peace bond.
With her face visibly swollen, RCMP took her to the detachment where she promised to appear at a later date on the charge and was released into the care of paramedics.
Solonas was taken to hospital "where the extent of her injuries was realized" and was flown to Vancouver where she died the following day from head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
The Independent Investigations Office, B.C.'s civilian-based police watchdog subsequently concluded Quesnel RCMP were not responsible.
Co-accused Nathan Lynn Joseph Doucette was also sentenced to time served for a coinciding assault on Solonas' partner Richard Gregorig.
The two couples were at odds over the noise Solonas and Gregorig were allegedly making during the early morning at the motel. Gunanoot was also worried Gregorig was physically abusing Solonas and initially went to their unit out of concern for her well-being. But when Solonas called Gunanoot a derogatory name, the two began fighting. Gregorig attempted to intervene and Doucette prevented him from doing so.
Gunanoot and Doucette left but about an hour later, the two returned and once again Gunanoot assaulted Solonas while Doucette held back Gregorig.Doucette told police Gunanoot knocked or punched Solonas in the face.
MacNaughton outlined tragic tales for both women saying Gunanoot has expressed "great sadness in her heart" because of what happened to Solonas. Gunanoot was in the throes of addiction and not doing well but thought there was a "potential kinship" with Solonas as they were the only Indigenous women living at motel.
"She describes Ms. Solonas as always appearing hungry, and she shared food with her," MacNaughton said. "She believed that Ms. Solonas was suffering physical abuse at the hands of Mr. Gregorig, and said she and Mr. Doucette could hear her screaming."
Gunanoot had served 37 days in custody prior to sentencing and Doucette more than 60. Both were also sentenced to one year probation.
"That Ms. Solonas died as a result of violence is not in dispute," McNaughton commented. "The challenges facing the Crown in this case were to determine, and ultimately to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, the extent of Ms. Gunanoot's and Mr. Doucette's criminal responsibility for her death. "Tragically, for her family, and her community, the circumstances which led to Ms. Solonas' head injury or injuries, and who was responsible for them, will never be known to the standard of proof required in criminal proceedings."
The full decision is posted with this story at www.princegeorgecitizen.com.
