A judge has returned a guilty verdict in the death of a Grande Prairie man who was found in a park long used by people without permanent housing.
In a judge-alone trial at the Court of King’s Bench, Nathan Landry was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a man identified in court records as Buchaski. The victim was discovered on Dec. 4, 2023 in the Westside Park area, part of the Muskoseepi Park network in Grande Prairie.
Verdict, location and immediate context
The conviction brings a legal close to a homicide that took place in a public green space that is frequently used by the city’s houseless community. Details presented at the judge-alone trial were sufficient for the presiding judge to find Landry criminally responsible for the death, under the charge of second-degree murder.
Buchaski was found dead on December 4, 2023, in the Westside Park area – part of the Muskoseepi Park network and often used by the city's houseless.
The judgment will proceed to sentencing. Under Canadian criminal law, a second-degree murder conviction is a serious offence that carries a mandatory life sentence; the parole ineligibility period is set by the judge within statutory parameters and will be determined at sentencing.
What this means for Grande Prairie
For residents and the downtown core, the case underscores two persistent issues: safety in public green spaces and the vulnerability of people living without stable housing. Muskoseepi Park and its Westside Park area are well-known community features — places for recreation during the day and, for some, shelter at night.
Local law-enforcement and social-service agencies regularly balance maintaining public safety with addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness. High-profile incidents such as this one can shift public attention toward calls for greater policing, better outreach services, or both. What follows will be a local conversation about how to reduce the chances of violent incidents in public spaces while also improving supports for vulnerable residents.
- Victim found: Dec. 4, 2023, Westside Park (Muskoseepi Park network)
- Accused: Nathan Landry
- Charge: Second-degree murder
- Trial type: Judge-alone
- Verdict: Guilty
Timeline at a glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 4, 2023 | Victim discovered in Westside Park, Muskoseepi Park network |
| Trial date | Judge-alone trial before the Court of King’s Bench (date of trial not specified in source) |
| Verdict | Guilty of second-degree murder (date of verdict not specified in source) |
Local authorities and community agencies will now await the sentencing hearing, which will set the period of parole ineligibility. That outcome, and any recommendations or statements from Crown counsel at sentencing, are likely to shape public reaction.
For Grande Prairie, the case is another reminder of the complex interplay between criminal justice, public safety and social supports. City officials, police and social-service providers must navigate these issues in the weeks and months ahead as they respond to public concern and consider measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The conviction does not reverse the harm suffered by the victim or the effects on family and friends. It does, however, confirm criminal responsibility under law and moves the matter to the sentencing phase.
WE NEWS will continue to follow developments, including the sentencing hearing and any community responses or policy discussions that follow.
