Father of children who froze to death is back in custody
The Saskatchewan man awaiting sentence in connection with the 2008 freezing deaths of his two little girls has been arrested and is in custody after allegedly breaching an undertaking not to drink alcohol.
Christopher Pauchay, 25, of Yellow Quill First Nation pleaded guilty last year to criminal negligence causing the deaths of Kaydance, 3, and Santana, 15 months.
Last week, Pauchay was in court where a judge ruled he would be sentenced by a sentencing circle, with his next court appearance set for Jan. 27.
For months, he had been free under court-imposed conditions, including requirements to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, attend court when required and refrain from alcohol consumption.
On Jan. 8, a day after a court appearance, Pauchay was arrested by Greenwater RCMP and charged with breach of undertaking.
It’s alleged the breach happened that day and on Dec. 14.
Pauchay appeared in Melfort provincial court on the charge on Tuesday and remains in custody. A bail hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.
Pauchay’s lawyer Ron Piche confirmed his client is accused of drinking alcohol on two occasions.
“Chris suffers from an affliction — he’s an alcoholic — and this is a setback, no doubt,” Piche said. “But we don’t live in a dream world where his problems miraculously go away. He suffers from a disease.”
Piche said he’s arranging in-patient alcohol treatment for Pauchay and hopes treatment will be finished before the sentencing on the criminal negligence charge.
The sentencing circle could be held as early as next month, Piche said.
The case of the freezing deaths on Yellow Quill First Nation in January 2008 made headlines across Canada and cast a harsh light on social conditions on the reserve.
Court heard evidence Pauchay was drunk when he left his home with his two girls and lost them in a snowy field on a night when it felt like –50. with the wind chill. The girls, who were not dressed for the cold, died of hypothermia.
Yellow Quill First Nation is about 270 kilometres east of Saskatoon.
