Accomplices plead guilty to helping accused murder escape in Prince Albert

Both men who helped an accused murderer escape custody in Prince Albert have pleaded guilty.

Wade Halkett, 25, pleaded guilty in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Wednesday for his involvement in the high-profile breakout of Braidy Vermette on March 30.

His brother, Richard Favel, entered the same plea last Friday.

According to an agreed statement of facts between Crown and defence, both Halkett and Favel are members of the local Tax Set gang and were promised they would be let go from the gang as payment for pulling off the breakout.

Both men were charged with assisting an escape from lawful custody, assault with a weapon, use of a firearm in commission of an offense, and disguise with intent.

In court, Halkett admitted to being the one who bear sprayed two correctional officers outside Victoria Hospital during the incident.

One guard, whose name is protected by a publication ban, submitted a victim impact statement which said he now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the Crown, Favel was intimately involved in organizing the escape, and was heard on jail phone calls talking to Vermette and his girlfriend Tristen Smith about the particulars of the plan.

Halkett was not involved on the calls, and only became involved shortly before the escape was carried out.

Appearing by video, Halkett apologized and said he recognized he made the wrong choice by going through with the plan. He said he took full responsibility for his actions.

He was sentenced to five years less 45 days.

Though he faced identical charges, Favel was sentenced to seven years due to his part in the planning of the escape.

Vermette will appear at P.A. Provincial Court on Wednesday. He is charged with the first-degree murder of Troy Napope in the summer of 2015.

He was recaptured after his escape in the early hours of April 7 with Smith in a house in the Rural Municipality of Buckland.