MOOSE JAW — Kyle Evan Peeace will spend six years in a federal jail for nearly killing Garnet Peters with a machete, while his conscience may be assuaged knowing his victim has forgiven him.
Peeace, 21, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Nov. 19 and pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault — they were initially charges of attempted murder — and one count of breaking and entering.
As part of a joint submission, Judge Ross Green sentenced the young man to six years (2,190 days) in federal prison for the machete attack, two years (730 days) to run at the same time for the attack on Ryan Angus, and six months (180 days) to run after the six years for the break-in at the Esso Gas Station on Manitoba Street.
Peeace had spent 418 days in custody since his arrest in September 2023, so the Crown credited him with 627 enhanced days served. This means he will spend 1,743 days in jail instead of the initial 2,370 days.
He is also prohibited from owning or using firearms for 10 years, must forfeit the machete and must provide a DNA sample.
Meanwhile, the Crown stayed two charges of failing to appear in court.
Facts of incidents
Peeace’s attempted murder charges stem from two incidents on Sept. 28, 2023, which also involved his twin brother, Dillon, explained Crown prosecutor Robbie Parker.
Moose Jaw police received multiple 911 calls around 6:10 p.m. about people fighting near the TD Bank, he continued. Once on scene, officers arrested the brothers and determined that they had attacked two people almost randomly.
The first victim was Ryan Angus, who encountered the brothers in an alley near the Park Hotel while they were arguing and shoving each other.
Dillon — who received two years’ jail for his role in the aggravated assault — shoved Angus into a wall while Kyle punched him, hit him with a scooter and then slashed him with a machete, Parker said.
Still arguing, the brothers then walked north near Déjà Vu and TD Bank and came across Peters, who was sitting on a bench. He stood up, and the twins directed their “beaking” at him.
“I didn’t see the machete in (Kyle’s) hand; it was that quick. He just swung at me; we didn’t argue,” Parker told police.
A motorist stopped and assisted Peters, who was taken to hospital in Regina because of the “significant laceration” the machete caused to his neck, the Crown prosecutor continued. Peters was fortunate to survive because the slice was millimetres away from hitting his main artery.
While most victims would harbour hatred toward their attackers, Parker credited Peters for wanting to pray with the Peeace brothers since he understood that they had “disturbed backgrounds” and needed Jesus Christ.
“‘I would say I forgive you (and) I don’t hold anything against them,’” Parker said while quoting Peters’ police testimony. “‘It’s stupid decisions (that were) alcohol induced.”
Meanwhile, on May 2, 2023, the brothers broke into the Esso Gas Station and threatened the staff with a gun, with police later arresting them, Parker added.
Homelessness, drugs, alcohol
The twins were homeless and living under the Manitoba Expressway bridge when these attacks occurred, while Kyle had serious issues with drinking and marijuana use, said defence lawyer Nick Brown. His childhood was troubled since his house was full of gangsters and drug dealers, while his first drink was at age 10 and his first joint was at age 13.
Furthermore, his maternal grandparents attended Indian residential schools and day schools, while his grandfather was also an alcoholic who served jail time and later became sober.
Kyle quit school in Grade 10 to drink and do drugs, while leading to these offences, he was daily consuming 375 millilitres of alcohol, two two-litre coolers and about nine beers, said Brown. Also, he regularly blacked out and had no recollection of his actions — including his assaults on Angus and Peters.
Being on remand for 14 months has been “a blessing in disguise” because Peeace has become sober and given him clarity about his life, the lawyer said. Furthermore, he is “extremely remorseful” and understands the seriousness of his attack on Peters.
While in jail, Kyle will complete his GED and take treatment and learning opportunities, while upon release, he intends to connect with his Aboriginal heritage and become a functioning member of society, Brown added.
Forgiveness
When asked to comment, Peeace — standing in the prisoner’s box wearing an orange uniform — said, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I am a Christian man. Before I got in jail, I was at Living Springs Church … . Thank you (Mr. Peters) for forgiving me. That (what I did) was really dumb of me. And I pray every day about it.”
Judge Green then accepted the joint submission and waived the victim fund surcharge.
Afterward, Peters went to the prisoners’ box and said he didn’t hold anything against Peeace since he had also done dumb things early in his life, adding that he would pray for the young man.
