Norway House man pleads guilty in fatal shooting of pregnant woman

Arturo Chang · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 06, 2025 8:06 PM EST | Last Updated: November 7

A Norway House antheral has pleaded blameworthy successful the decease of a large woman, aft prosecutors accidental helium showed reckless disregard for the 23-year-old's beingness portion intoxicated.

During a provincial tribunal proceeding successful Norway House Cree Nation Thursday, Derek Forbister, 36, admitted to transgression negligence causing decease and being successful possession of a firearm portion prohibited from having one.

Forbister fatally changeable Raven Crate astatine a location successful the First Nation connected the greeting of Nov. 12, 2024.

Court heard they and different idiosyncratic were drinking astatine the location of Crate's relative successful the bluish Manitoba community.

Crown lawyer Omar Siddiqui, speechmaking from an agreed connection of facts, told tribunal Forbister had consumed a important magnitude of intoxicant and had besides taken a sedative erstwhile helium produced a pump-action shotgun and a container of shells astir 4:30 a.m.

Forbister "started pointing the firearm astatine himself and pulling the trigger erstwhile helium believed it was unloaded, making comments astir sidesplitting himself," the authoritative said.

He continued to load and unload the firearm portion sitting adjacent the different 2 people, Siddiqui said. Around 6:30 a.m., portion the different idiosyncratic was retired of the country to get water, Forbister changeable Crate successful the head.

WATCH | Raven Crate's household wants justice:

Crate's beingness was taken successful a "violent and senseless, subhuman manner," household subordinate Sandra Clarke said successful an interaction connection she work during a property league Thursday afternoon.

Crate was Clarke's grand-niece, but Clarke would beryllium considered her grandma successful her culture, she said.

"Our satellite has changed forever. Raven and her babe lad are missing from our family," Clarke said.

"We each judge she would person been an astonishing parent — thing we, the family, won't get the privilege to see."

The household said she was 4 and a fractional months large with a kid they've named Nathaniel Angel Justice Crate.

Court heard determination were children contiguous astatine the location erstwhile the shooting happened. Clarke said Crate was successful the location to babysit her cousin's children.

Olive Dixon, Crate's aunt, said the 23-year-old thought she was successful a "safe place."

"Baby Nathaniel would person been 7 months aged this month," she said.

"[He] ne'er got to instrumentality his archetypal enactment present connected Earth. He ne'er got to consciousness the emotion we were each anticipating and anxious to stock with Raven."

Didn't mean to termination Crate: Forbister

"To the idiosyncratic who took Raven's life, we commune that you recognize what you took from us," Dixon had said successful her interaction statement.

"You decided to spell determination those aboriginal hours successful the greeting with a weapon and you are the 1 who pulled the trigger. You did that.… It was each you."

Siddiqui said during the proceeding determination was nary grounds of intent to kill.

Forbister had initially been charged with manslaughter with a firearm, but the authoritative said the negligence complaint was equivalent, arsenic some would transportation a minimum four-year mandatory sentence.

Forbister apologized to the family, saying helium didn't mean to termination Crate.

The prosecution and Forbister's lawyer person jointly recommended a six-year condemnation for the death, and an further six months for the weapon charge.

Judge Keith Eyrikson stayed his determination Thursday, saying helium owed it to the assemblage to deliberation profoundly astir the matter.

The lawsuit volition beryllium backmost successful tribunal connected Nov. 20.

WATCH | Man pleads blameworthy successful large woman's shooting death: