Second Life Sentence for 2018 Fatal Shooting
Brandin Cole Brick has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years for the second-degree murder of James Joseph Chaisson. This marks the second time Brick has received this sentence for the 2018 shooting death, following a successful appeal and retrial.
Case Details and Court Proceedings
Justice Timothy Keene imposed the sentence on November 20, 2025 at Saskatoon Court of King's Bench. Brick, now 34, was found guilty in August 2025 during a judge-alone trial. The conviction relates to the February 14, 2018 fatal shooting of Chaisson, who was in the back seat of a car Brick was driving.
During the trial, Brick testified he acted in self-defense, claiming Chaisson pointed a sawed-off shotgun at him during a drug deal. Brick stated he slammed the brakes to distract Chaisson while grabbing a firearm from under the driver's seat.
Justice Keene firmly rejected this account, stating "I frankly find this unbelievable" in his ruling. The court heard evidence from Nathan Pelly, given during Brick's first trial before Pelly's death. Pelly testified that Brick forced Chaisson into the back seat at a since-closed 7-Eleven on Avenue P and 22nd Street, then later stopped the vehicle and shot Chaisson, who Pelly stated was unarmed.
Legal History and Additional Penalties
This represents Brick's second conviction for the same crime. He was initially convicted of second-degree murder in 2020 and received an identical sentence. The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal overturned the verdict in 2023, ordering a new trial after finding Brick had received ineffective legal representation during his first trial, particularly regarding the investigation of his self-defense claim.
In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed several other significant penalties. Brick is banned from possessing firearms for life and must provide a DNA sample for the national database.
The case highlights the Canadian justice system's handling of murder convictions and the legal standards for self-defense claims in violent confrontations.
