User:Madimacdonald/sandbox

= Victims of 'Starlight Tours' (1990 - 2000) in Saskatchewan = In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and surrounding area, Indigenous men have fallen victim to freezing deaths resulting from an unauthorized police practice known as Starlight Tours. 'Starlight tours' is a moniker used by both Saskatoon's police and Indigenous communities describing the picking up of Indigenous peoples who were said to be intoxicated, and dropping them off on the outskirts of the city in undesirable conditions. The intent of this practice is for the Indigenous victims to sober up on their walks back into the city. This practice is deadly and has resulted in the deaths of numerous Indigenous men in Saskatoon. Victims of Starlight tours that have resulted in death include Neil Stonechild, Lloyd Dustyhorn, Rodney Naistus, and Lawrence Wegner. Darrell Night is a surviving victim of this practice. There are more victims who remain nameless either because they have chosen to remain anonymous or they have not reported the incident.

Neil Stonechild
Neil Stonechild, a 17-year-old Saulteaux First Nations male, was last seen by his friend Jason Roy on the night of November 24, 1990. After attending a house party together, Roy last saw Stonechild in the custody of Constable Larry Hartwig and Constable Bradley Senger. Roy told officers that he saw Stonechild covered in blood and screaming in the back of the police car that the officers were going to kill him. Temperatures that night reached as low as -28 degrees Celsius. On November 29, 1990, Stonechild's body was found on the outskirts of Saskatoon, specifically in the industrial area of 800 block and 57 street. He was wearing only jeans, a light jacket, and one shoe. His nose was also injured at the time his body was found, this was likely due to handcuffs. Handcuff marks were also evident on his wrists. On December 5, 1990, the investigation into Stonechild’s death was closed prematurely, as approved by police officer Bruce Bolton who had admitted to dropping off an Indigenous man in an isolated area 35 years prior to Stonechild. The investigation closed prior to the coroner’s report, toxicology report, and the completion of all interviews with witnesses. The original investigation determined the cause of death to be probable hypothermia. In 1998, the original files on Stonechild's death were destroyed in a routine purge. After the suspicious deaths of two additional Indigenous men, and a close call of another, Stonechild's case was reopened. On November 12, 2004, Hartwig and Senger were fired and their appeal was denied. Stonechild's mother received a written apology from the police chief. In 2003, Commissioner Justice David Wright released the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild.

Lloyd Dustyhorn
On January 19, 2000, the body of a 53-year-old Indigenous male, namely Lloyd Dustyhorn was found frozen to death. He was found in the area surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Power Plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On January 18, 2000, a day before his body was found, Dustyhorn was taken into police custody for public intoxication and he spent 18 hours in a cell where he had been experiencing hallucinations. Dustyhorn was released three hours prior to the discovery of his dead body. That day, temperatures reached as low as -35 degrees Celsius. He was found wearing a shirt, pants, and shoes. The Justice Minister ordered a coroner's inquest relating to this case. In May 2001, upon completion of the inquest, a jury concluded that the cause of death was hypothermia. There have been no charges laid in relation to Dustyhorn's death.

Darrell Night
On January 28, 2000 Darrell Night, who is a Cree man, was taken 5 kilometers outside of Saskatoon. He was able to walk to the Queen Elizabeth Power Plant where a watchman saw him, allowing Night to survive this deadly police practice. Temperatures that night reached as low as -22 degrees Celsius. Night was dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, a jean jacket and running shoes. The allegations surrounding the events of the night came forward on February 16, 2000. Night decided to come forward after hearing about the finding of Wegner's body. In September, 2001, Constable Dan Hatchen and Constable Ken Munson, who had not noted that Night was in their car, were criminally convicted of unlawful confinement. They received an 8-month sentence for a crime that holds a 10-year maximum.

Rodney Naistus
On January 29, 2000, the body of Rodney Naistus, a 25-year-old Indigenous man, was found near the Queen Elizabeth Power Plant on the outskirts of Saskatoon by a jogger. Naistus' body was shirtless. He had appeared to be frozen to death and the first investigation determined the cause of death to be probable hyperthermia. His footprints were the only ones present at the scene. However, according to public inquests and police investigations, Naistus was in police custody prior to his death. Police acknowledged that it is possible he was dropped off and started walking, however the idea was rejected by the coroner. Inquests into Naistus' death determined the circumstances to be inconclusive. No charges have been made in relation to his death.

Lawrence Wegner
On February 3 2000, the body of Lawrence Wegner was found near the Queen Elizabeth Power Plant on the outskirts of Saskatoon. Wegner was a 30-year-old Indigenous man and university student. Police chief Dave Scott does not believe that there is reason to link the deaths of Wegner and Naistus to the events surrounding Night's case. He was last seen alive the morning of January 31, 2000. Wegner’s body was found wearing jeans, and a t-shirt, he was missing his jacket and his shoes. His clothes, which had bloodstains, were not kept for evidence. As well as, elements of the scene, such as footprints, were contaminated by the investigating officers. Police have admitted to walking over the area that the body was found, as well as police not pursuing evidence from two witnesses who came forward claiming to see Wegner being placed in a police car. Negligence also includes not conducting photo lineups, lie detector tests or further investigations into the Saskatoon police. Police Sergeant Bob Peters admitted that the crime scene had been contaminated. The initial investigation of Wegner’s death determined the cause of death to be probable hypothermia. However, inquests into Wegner’s death determined the circumstances to be inconclusive. No chargers have been filed in relation to Wegner’s death.