Saskatoon, Canada – In a resonating case that captured the public’s attention, the 2003 inquiry into the mysterious death of Neil Stonechild, a 17-year-old Indigenous teen, marked a pivotal moment in Saskatchewan’s legal history. The investigation, ordered by then-Justice Minister Eric Cline, delved deep into the events leading to Stonechild’s tragic death in November 1990, amid allegations that he had died while in police custody.
Neil Stonechild’s body was found frozen in a field, raising immediate questions about the circumstances of his death. His family long believed that he was last seen in police custody, sparking a saga that would unfold over more than a decade. The case resurfaced publicly when Stonechild’s body was exhumed, leading to a re-examination of the evidence associated with his death.
During the inquiry, defense lawyer Silas Halyk, representing the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, presented compelling photographic evidence. With a dramatic display in a hotel ballroom serving as the inquiry’s venue, close-up images of Stonechild’s injuries were projected. Superimposing an image of handcuffs over the wounds suggested that the markings on his face could align with those from handcuffs, a detail Halyk argued indicated police custody.
The visual presentation made a significant impact on those present, including Don Worme, the lawyer representing Stonechild’s family. The suggestion that the police might have been involved in the circumstances leading to Stonechild’s death had profound implications, shifting public perception and adding pressure for accountability. Ultimately, Commissioner David Wright, leading the inquiry, concluded that Stonechild had indeed been in police custody the night of his death.
The inquiry is just one chapter in the distinguished career of Silas Eugene Halyk, who passed away on December 2 at the age of 86. Halyk’s legal journey began after he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and was admitted to the bar in 1962. Following a hiatus for post-graduate studies at the University of Michigan, he returned to Saskatoon and practiced law for five decades.
Halyk was known for a versatile legal practice that spanned both civil and criminal law at a time when many lawyers began to specialize in one area. His broad practice included everything from murder cases and impaired driving defenses to personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Halyk also played a significant role as a chief federal negotiator in land settlement talks with various First Nations.
Renowned for his commanding courtroom presence, Halyk’s former colleagues and students remember him as a brilliant, if unconventional, lawyer whose style was both effective and influential. Justice Gerald Allbright, one of Halyk’s former law partners turned King’s Bench judge, remembered him as a storytelling teacher with a profound understanding of criminal procedure.
Aside from his legal expertise, Halyk contributed significantly to the mentorship and training of young lawyers. The College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan hosts an annual Silas E. Halyk Q.C. Visiting Scholar in Advocacy Lecture, strengthening advocacy skills among law students.
Remembered as a “superstar lawyer” by peers like Allbright, Halyk’s legacy persists in the lessons he imparted and the impacts of his cases, echoing through courtrooms across Saskatchewan.
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