Misha Pavelick’s killer receives maximum youth sentence of 7 years

More than 20 years after Misha Pavelick’s death, his killer has been given a seven-year sentence, the maximum for a youth guilty of second-degree murder.

The now-37-year-old will spend the next four years in custody, followed by three years under supervision.

Justice Catherine Dawson told Regina’s Court of King’s Bench on Tuesday that she found the man’s moral culpability for the murder to be high and that he required a period of sustained custody.

Dawson told the court that there are “few mitigating circumstances” and that the man has made no reparations to Pavelick’s family.

“This is a most difficult case, and if sentencing was a simple question of the seriousness of the crime, it would be straightforward. But that is not the law and the courts are bound to sentence by the laws enacted,” Dawson said.

A 12-person jury found the man guilty of second-degree murder in November 2025 after hearing testimony from more than 30 witnesses and seeing evidence including photos, DNA analysis and an autopsy report.

On Monday, Justice Catherine Dawson announced she would sentence the man as a youth. It means the man’s identity remains protected by a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

WATCH | Judge opts for youth sentence for now-37-year-old in murder of Misha Pavelick :

Now-37-year-old to be sentenced as youth for murder of Misha Pavelick

A Regina Court of King’s Bench judge has ruled that the now-37-year-old man who murdered Misha Pavelick will be sentenced as a youth. The man, who was 17 at the time, fatally stabbed Pavelick, 19, at a party near Regina Beach in 2006.

Dawson explained that under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a youth is presumed to have diminished moral blameworthiness for their actions.

For the youth to be sentenced as an adult, the Crown has to rebut that presumption beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dawson said the Crown had not overcome that “heavy burden.”

Defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock, who spoke with media after Tuesday’s hearing, said he was not surprised by the decision.

“That test to have someone sentenced as an adult is an extremely onerous one for the Crown to meet and in a case like this, where there’s alcohol involved in a large fight, [it was] very unlikely they’re gonna get it,” Hitchcock said.

Crown prosecutor Adam Breker said the seven year sentence was “appropriate” and “deserved” while reflecting on the lengthy legal process that ended on Tuesday.

“It’s been a case that for the Pavelick family is over 20 years to today, and for them, it’s been a burden that won’t end today,” Breker said.

“But we’re relieved that we were able to bring this matter to court, that the facts of this incident were uncovered and that someone’s been finally held accountable, albeit a long, long time after it occurred.”

Pavelick’s family did not speak with media after the sentencing decision was delivered.

The murder

Pavelick was 19 years old on May 21, 2006, when he was stabbed during a graduation party at the Kinookimaw Campground near Regina Beach, about 45 kilometres northwest of Regina.

The violent brawl that led to the stabbing centred on a dispute between Pavelick, his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, Andrew Perkins, who was friends with the man who later stabbed Pavelick.

An arrest for Pavelick’s murder was not made until 2023.

The man convicted of second-degree murder in Pavelick’s death is now 37 years old, but was 17 at the time of the incident.

No credit

Dawson also declined to provide the man with credit for the one year, eight months and 13 days he spent in pre-sentence custody.

Breker urged Dawson not to provide credit, while defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock argued the man should receive it.

Dawson ruled that the sentence calls for the upper limit, without reduction for time served.

Dawson did not provide direction on where the man will serve his sentence, but it has been made clear he will serve it in an adult penitentiary.

Dawson was obligated to impose a mandatory DNA order on the man. She also decided on a weapon prohibition that will last for 10 years after the custodial part of the man’s sentence.

The 37-year-old has been in custody since Oct. 3, 2024, after he failed to attend court at his preliminary hearing and then allegedly assaulted a peace officer during an arrest. Charges for both of those are still pending.

Hitchock said his client is contemplating whether to appeal the guilty decision and the sentence.

“I certainly think he has grounds to appeal, but it’s going to be his decision,” Hitchcock said.