Saskatoon man pleads guilty to criminal negligence causing death of wife

Tuesday saw a surprise guilty plea in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.
 
Ryan Wayne Poplar was scheduled for a week-long jury trial on charges stemming from the death of Dina Shepherd (dee-na), his common-law wife.
 
Shepherd died of a prescription drug overdose in October 2013. Poplar allegedly left her unconscious on the floor of their home for nearly 12 hours without calling an ambulance.

At the outset of his trial, Poplar was facing charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessities of life. He was also charged with uttering threats against two people in the wake of Shepherd’s death.

Poplar pleaded guilty Tuesday to the charge of criminal negligence causing death, and also entered a guilty plea to the charge of uttering threats.
 
He’ll be back in court for sentencing on Aug. 19.