A West Kelowna, B.C. woman’s sentencing hearing was abruptly halted on Friday as the court learned she had been hospitalized after a drug overdose and suicide attempt during the lunch break. The hearing for 30-year-old Ka-Mikosit Favelle, who had previously admitted to manslaughter in the death of Adam Briand-Lawrence, was in its second day.
Justice Catherine Murray had hinted at a possible sentence higher than the Crown’s proposed seven-year term. Favelle’s defense lawyer, Paul McMurray, suggested a conditional sentence order involving house arrest due to her clean criminal record. Murray requested submissions from the lawyers to be presented after the lunch break.
However, when the proceedings resumed in the afternoon, McMurray informed the judge that Favelle had been taken to the hospital for a drug overdose and suicide attempt, as relayed by her parents. Favelle was out on bail under the condition that she refrained from possessing illegal drugs. Consequently, Justice Murray issued a warrant for her arrest under the court breaches section of the Criminal Code.
The court had heard on the first day of the hearing about Favelle and Briand-Lawrence’s tumultuous relationship marked by heavy substance use. The fatal incident occurred on a residential road in West Kelowna on August 19, 2022, where Favelle struck Briand-Lawrence with her vehicle after an argument, resulting in his death.
Initially charged with second-degree murder in 2023, Favelle eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter. During the hearing, Crown prosecutor Jordan Schroeder highlighted Favelle’s continued substance abuse post-arrest, including sporadic lapses in her prescribed anti-psychotic medication regimen. He argued for a six to seven-year sentence, characterizing Favelle’s actions as close to murder on the manslaughter spectrum.
Several members of Briand-Lawrence’s family were present at the sentencing hearing, with his sister, Stephanie Lawrence, describing him as a caring individual devoted to his family. She expressed hope that the judge’s thorough consideration of a lengthier sentence would bring some closure to their family.
However, these hopes were dashed as the sentencing hearing faced further delays following Favelle’s reported overdose and hospitalization.