The father of a deceased child in Vernon, British Columbia, has expressed his profound disappointment and anger over the court’s recent ruling. The court’s decision has rekindled his anguish over the loss of his eight-year-old son.
The father, identified only as Mackenzie to shield his son’s identity, expressed his dissatisfaction with the court’s verdict, asserting it didn’t reflect the gravity of his son’s loss. He lamented the lack of justice, urging the public to share his outrage and remember his son.
His son, a young boy from Okanagan, tragically passed away in spring 2020. The boy’s mother, Keisha McCrea, faced charges in Vernon court for failing to provide life’s necessities. Despite her not guilty plea, she pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm through assault, which exempts her from any imprisonment.
McCrea and her partner, Brian Chcuik, were the child’s sole caregivers, living in Lumby at the time. Chcuik, too, was initially charged with failing to provide necessities of life, but the Crown stayed these charges.
The father expressed his frustration, comparing his son’s case to others where minor offenses received harsher punishments. He believes the court’s decision is a gross injustice. The court recorded several incidents involving the child, including a tragic event on April 4, 2020, when the boy was pushed outside after an accident. He suffered a head injury, leading to his airlift to Kelowna General Hospital, where he passed away the next day.
According to Mackenzie, his son’s death is a clear incidence of abuse. He questioned the court’s lack of evidence to pursue further action.
The BC Prosecution Service, responding to the father’s criticism, stated that the court agreed to the joint sentencing submission of the Crown and defense counsels. The court imposed a 12-month conditional sentence order, including house arrest and other conditions, such as completing 80 hours of community work service by July 31, 2025.
The grieving father has called for significant changes in the justice system to prevent such tragic outcomes for other families. He wants to ensure no other child suffers, and no other family believes they can commit such acts without facing severe consequences.
Remembering his son as an imaginative, good, and shy child, Mackenzie expressed his heartache of not being able to see his son again. Each day is a painful reminder of his loss, and his sleep is filled with thoughts of his son.
Mackenzie’s story is a poignant reminder of the need for a robust justice system that adequately addresses such tragic incidents and holds responsible parties accountable. His plea for justice and change is a call to action for the system, urging it to remember the victims and prevent such tragedies in the future.
