The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed the appeal of Dillon Ricky Whitehawk, a Regina man convicted of second-degree murder in the 2020 death of Keesha Cree Bitternose. The decision, delivered orally on Thursday by Chief Justice Richard Wagner, upholds the conviction and life sentence imposed by the Court of King's Bench.
Court Ruling
Chief Justice Wagner stated on behalf of the nine-judge panel: "We are all of the view to dismiss the appeal, substantially for the reasons of the majority of the Court of Appeal. Therefore the appeal is dismissed." This ruling affirms the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal's October 2025 split decision, which had upheld Whitehawk's conviction. The dissenting opinion in that decision had allowed Whitehawk to bring his case to the Supreme Court.
Background of the Case
In early January 2020, Bitternose was found dead in a home on the 1500 block of Cameron Street in Regina. A forensic pathologist noted that her body bore so many wounds that it was impractical to count them during the autopsy. Trial evidence described the residence as a frequent gathering place for members of the Regina Indian Mafia street gang, which included Bitternose, Whitehawk, and several other witnesses. The killing occurred amid internal gang conflicts.
Trial and Sentencing
On December 13, 2022, Court of King's Bench Justice Janet McMurtry convicted Whitehawk of second-degree murder. He received a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years on April 25, 2023. Whitehawk's legal team raised multiple arguments against the trial judge's decision, but the majority of the three-judge Saskatchewan Court of Appeal panel rejected them. The dissenting judge agreed with Whitehawk's contention that the trial judge's reasons were insufficient regarding the testimony of several "unsavoury witnesses," including the Crown's key witness.
Supreme Court's Decision
At the Supreme Court, Whitehawk's lawyers again presented arguments on his behalf. However, the court dismissed these arguments, effectively ending his appeal. As a result, the second-degree murder conviction stands.
Related Convictions
Whitehawk was previously convicted of three murders, but two of those convictions—for the 2019 deaths of Keenan Scott Toto and Jordan Gaiton Denton—were overturned on appeal, and a new trial was ordered. On March 19, 2026, he was again convicted of first-degree murder for Toto's death but acquitted in Denton's killing. For Toto's murder, he is also serving a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
