Délı̨nę man serving 10 years for manslaughter

A man from Délı̨nę is serving a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of his uncle.

RCMP charged Jonathan Tetso, now 40, with manslaughter in March 2024 after police said they found a man in a Délı̨nę home with serious injuries. He died after he was taken to the community’s health centre.

Tetso subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge in the death of 67-year-old Morris Tetso.

According to an agreed statement of facts filed with the court, Jonathan was with Morris on the evening of March 9, 2024 and was intoxicated.

At some point that night, he entered Morris’ room and damaged furniture, threw a television on the floor and struck Morris repeatedly on the face, head and body with his fists.

A relative stopped by the home around 10pm and, after seeing the damaged furniture, blood on a cushion and Morris on the floor, contacted the RCMP.

Responding officers found Morris on the floor with blood around his head and Jonathan passed out in Morris’ bed. They also found blood on the wall next to the bed.

Morris was taken to the local health centre, where he was declared deceased.

An autopsy determined he had died of blunt force chest injuries. He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and used an oxygen machine, and the agreed facts state the injuries would have caused significant impairment to his breathing.

Morris had multiple other injuries including swelling and bruising to his face, a scalp hemorrhage, bruises on his hands and wrists, and a fracture to his left clavicle.

Jonathan did not have any injuries.

He said he has no memory of attacking his uncle. The reason for the attack is unknown.

‘A senseless and tragic loss’

During a sentencing hearing, the Crown argued Tetso should be sentenced to 11 years in prison. The defence advocated for a sentence of nine years.

In September 2025 in Délı̨nę, NWT Territorial Court Chief Judge Jeannie Scott sentenced him to 10 years in prison. He was given 816 days’ credit for time he served in pre-sentencing custody.

Once released from prison, Tetso will be prohibited from possessing firearms for life.

While he was sentenced several months ago, the verdict was not circulated or reported at the time. Cabin Radio only became aware of the outcome this week.

In sentencing Tetso, Scott described the crime as a “senseless and tragic loss for the Tetso family and for the community of Délı̨nę.”

She thanked community members for sharing how they had been impacted by Morris’ death and accepted that Tetso was remorseful.

Tetso told the author of a pre-sentencing report he felt “devastated” by the crime. He said if he had been sober, the offence would not have occurred.

The author of the report noted that while he expressed remorse, Tetso had minimized his responsibility for the crime, saying he believed his uncle’s death could have been avoided if RCMP had responded faster.

Tetso told the court he would do anything to bring his uncle back. He described Morris as a good man who made everyone laugh, taught him how to hunt, and supported and believed in him after he was released from an earlier period in jail.

Previous manslaughter conviction

Tetso had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2016 death of his adoptive mother, Irene Tetso. In 2018, he was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment for the charge.

According to the CBC, Tetso received strong support from community members during that sentencing.

Sentencing Tetso for manslaughter in the death of his uncle, Scott said the cycle of intergenerational trauma was evident.

According to the pre-sentencing report, Tetso, who is Dene, is an intergenerational survivor of residential school who was exposed to substance abuse, violence and neglect while growing up.

Tetso told the author of the report he has struggled with substance abuse and left school after Grade 11 due to bullying and needing to work to support himself.