Red Deer man confronted by victim following sentence for aggravated assault

Following a long night of drinking, Buffalo and Shalyn Peterson were having a heated argument that escalated to the point where Peterson locked herself in a bathroom and called her father for help.

Travis Peterson arrived soon after, went into Buffalo’s bedroom and punched him while he was in bed. Buffalo got up and stabbed Peterson in the neck and hip before their fight made its way to the kitchen. That’s where Peterson’s suffered a hand injury while trying to wrestle away Buffalo’s knife.

In convicting Buffalo, Slawinsky ruled that the first two wounds were in self-defence, but the third injury constituted aggravated assault.

“This was an extremely tragic event and will have longstanding effects on your family,” Slawinsky told Buffalo on Thursday. “The promise of positive family relationships has forever been compromised.”

Slawinsky suggested alcohol is Buffalo’s “Achilles heel” and that when sober, which he has been for the last two years, he is a good person who’s shown remorse for his actions.

Buffalo’s supporters said they plan to appeal the conviction.

Kim Beaudin, national vice chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, was in attendance Thursday and said Buffalo should not have been convicted because he was defending himself.

“It’s a huge overreach,” he said. “This happens to Indigenous people all the time.”

As people were leaving the courtroom Thursday, Travis Peterson confronted Buffalo.

Witnesses said he told Buffalo that he would kill him if he came near his 2-year-old grandson (Buffalo’s son with Shalyn).

Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin, who was nearby at the time, confirmed that a threat was made and said it was understandable that Peterson would be emotional.

“He was hopeful the judge would add more time (in jail),” she said.

Family members said they planned to report the incident to RCMP.

by Troy Gillard

Red Deer man confronted by victim following sentence for aggravated assault

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