4 men plead guilty to manslaughter in beating death of northern Sask. teen

Four men charged with second-degree murderin the beating of a 17-year-old northern Saskatchewan boy havepleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Robbie Lambert Cree Custer, Cody Drake Custer, Trevor JohnCharles and Brandon Lee Matt McCallum, all in their 20s, entered theplea Monday prior to what was to have been a scheduled two-weektrial in Prince Albert.

Charles was sentenced to five and a half years, both Custers gottwo and a half years and McCallum was given two years, but allsentences were reduced based on time already spent in custody.

A fifth man, Marcus Sewap, previously pleaded guilty tomanslaughter and will be sentenced in Pelican Narrows on Feb. 6.

Trial for 2 youths to come

A trial for the two youths is scheduled for April. Crown prosecutor Fran Atkinson told court that Sewap's death
arose from an ongoing dispute between two groups known in PelicanNarrows as the Wong-Streeters and Bronxers.

Atkinson said the Wong-Streeters were chasing members of theBronxers around the community with pieces of lumber and otherweapons when they isolated Sewap and inflicted the beating, whichresulted in his death at the scene.

"Hilliard either was knocked down or tripped. He wassurrounded," said Atkinson as part of a sentencing agreement with
the defence.

She said although the exact nature of each man's involvement wasdifficult to determine, Charles was seen striking the teen with acollapsible police-style baton and bystanders were prevented fromcoming to his aid.

Prosecutor says community facing'gang war'

Atkinson noted the assault happened the day after governmentcheques arrived in the community, which she said regularly leads toa spike in alcohol consumption and subsequent violence.

The prosecutor said Sewap's death has also led to an increase inhostilities between the two factions and she described the currentsituation as a "gang war."

"This was a very tragic incident. It has weighed heavily on thecommunity of Pelican Narrows."

Several members of Sewap's family were on hand for Monday'shearing, which prompted officials to move the proceedings to alarger courtroom.