In a recent court case, two individuals were convicted of involvement in a stabbing incident where it was unclear who actually wielded the knife. Ashtin Ritzand and Colton Lischka faced charges related to the death of James (Ed) Swift and the injury of Virginia Belhumeur in an altercation that occurred at a rural intersection near Saskatoon on August 29, 2022.
The incident unfolded after a confrontation at an off-sale liquor store parking lot where Swift was almost hit by a vehicle driven by Ritzand and Lischka’s friend, Anthony Burley. Following this, all five individuals, including the victims and the accused, ended up at Burley’s residence and later went to buy cocaine. During the car ride back, a dispute erupted, leading to the fatal stabbings of Swift and Belhumeur in the neck.
Ritzand and Lischka, initially charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, were ultimately found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated assault. Burley, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact. During the trial, conflicting testimonies emerged about the events leading up to the stabbings, with uncertainties about who directly committed the act.
The Crown prosecutor pushed for a 10 to 12-year sentence citing the gravity of the offense and the victims’ harrowing ordeal. Belhumeur, in her victim impact statement, expressed enduring fear and anxiety since the incident, highlighting the lasting trauma she has been grappling with.
While defense attorneys for Ritzand and Lischka advocated for relatively lenient sentences given the circumstances, the judge emphasized the need to consider both individuals as potentially responsible for the stabbings. Ritzand’s lawyer proposed a seven-year sentence, combining time served with a conditional release plan, while Lischka’s legal counsel recommended a four-year prison term based on his client’s clean record and minimal involvement in the incident.
The sentencing decision for Ritzand and Lischka is pending, with the judge scheduled to announce his ruling on January 30.