REGINA - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has dismissed Chad Barre’s appeal of his first-degree murder conviction in the February 2018 shooting death of 40-year-old Justin Langan.
Justice Jillyne M. Drennan, in her Nov. 24 written decision, however, substituted Barre’s first-degree murder conviction with second-degree murder.
“I would dismiss his appeal, and substitute a conviction for second degree murder in place of the first degree murder conviction entered after trial,” wrote Justice Drennan in concurrence with Justices Neal Caldwell and Jeffery Kalmakoff.
Barre, then 34, was found guilty by a jury in Regina Court of Queen’s Bench in November 2020. He was sentenced to life with no parole for 25 years.
According to court documents, Langan was shot and killed in his Regina home the evening of Feb. 18, 2018. His wife, Alexis Bigeagle, her niece and nephew, and the couple’s two children were at the home at the time.
Bigeagle had testified that at around 7:45 p.m., there was a knock at the door. She and Langan were in the living area of the home watching television at the time. Her nephew and niece came down the stairs from an upper level of the home and opened the door.
Barre and another man were at the door and entered. Barre was known to Bigeagle and Langan, but Bigeagle didn’t know the second male. While Langan and Bigeagle were sitting on the couch, Barre approached Langan and asked for $20 owing for a purchase of methamphetamine.
Bigeagle said that at some point, either during or shortly after Barre’s request for the money, the second male approached Barre and Langan pulled out a shotgun from under his clothing and passed it to Barre, who then pointed the gun at Langan.
Langan told Barre that he didn’t have the money. The discussion turned to taking the television in lieu of the money owed. The second male went to unplug and take the television. Bigeagle got up from the couch and attempted to stop him. She described the interaction that ensued as a “tug of war” over the television.
Bigeagle testified that, while this was happening, Barre and Langan walked toward the front door, talking. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about but said that they weren’t arguing or raising their voices. No physical altercation occurred between them. Barre was still holding the firearm, but not pointing it.
The second male eventually disconnected the television, and while walking towards the front door with it, knocked over Bigeagle, who tripped on the coffee table and fell to the ground. Langan turned and moved towards her to help.
Bigeagle then heard a popping noise. Barre was behind Bigeagle, holding the gun, and Langan fell to the ground. Bigeagle testified that Barre said something like “That’s what’s up” or “That’s what you get.”
Langan was fatally wounded. Barre and the second male took the television and ran out of the home, got into a truck, and drove away.
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