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Youths charged with murder

Two Yorkton-area youths have been charged with first-degree murder in the sudden death of Lawrence Skoretz. Skoretz (67) was found unresponsive on Wellington Park Road near Gladstone Avenue September 13 very early in the morning.
Lawrence Skoretz Murder
Police tag and bag evidence at a Fourth Avenue residence September 22 as part of the Lawrence Skoretz murder investigation.

Two Yorkton-area youths have been charged with first-degree murder in the sudden death of Lawrence Skoretz.

Skoretz (67) was found unresponsive on Wellington Park Road near Gladstone Avenue September 13 very early in the morning. He was pronounced dead at hospital shortly thereafter.

Initially police would not even say whether the death was suspicious, but an investigation that closed down the wooded area, dog park and ball diamonds between Sacred Heart High School and Hopkins Lake tipped off the city it was not an innocent matter creating some fear and concern, particularly among elderly persons.

On September 15, following an autopsy the previous day, police upgraded the investigation to suspicious and issued a notice that they believed there was no risk to public safety.

In a press release dated September 23, police revealed their investigation indicated “the deceased male and the two accused youth had some interaction at a park in Yorkton during the early morning hours of September 13, 2016.” That led to a physical altercation that resulted in Skoretz’s death, the release stated, but so far the RCMP is not releasing any details.

They also would not say why they are not releasing the cause of death, murder weapon(s) and other pertinent information, but frequently detectives hold back details that only the perpetrator of a crime would know in order to ensure any confessions elicited line up with the physical evidence.

The two youths cannot be named due to a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). They were arrested without incident September 22 at a residence in Yorkton.

Both accused have been charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of robbery with violence. During their first very brief court appearances September 23, 15 members of the victim’s family and friends were present, one holding a photograph of Skoretz. His brother made a very brief statement to media saying only that the family has come together to support Lawrence and they believe justice will be served.

They have been remanded in custody pending a next court appearance scheduled for October 6.

The Crown has not yet indicated whether they will apply to have the teens tried as adults. Recent changes to the YCJA require prosecutors to consider seeking adult sentences for youth aged 14 and older who are charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated assault, but the onus is on the Crown to justify the appropriateness of doing so.

Public sentiment on social media appears to overwhelmingly support such a move, but that is not necessarily an accurate measure and usually does not inform the Crown’s deliberations.