A teenage girl charged with second-degree murder in the 2021 beating death of Penticton man Taig Savage has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for a separate road rage incident that occurred last November.
The sentencing took place Thursday at the Penticton Courthouse. As the girl had already served 20 days in pre-trial custody, Justice Lynett Jung ordered her to serve an additional 40 days behind bars.
The girl is one of four individuals charged with second-degree murder in connection with Savage’s death. Savage, 22, was found unresponsive in a field near Penticton Secondary School on the morning of September 5, 2021, after an alleged group assault. He died shortly after being transported to hospital.
Of the four accused, Isaac Hayse Jack, 22, is the only adult and the only individual whose name can be published. The three other accused were under 18 at the time of the incident and were initially charged with manslaughter; those charges were upgraded to second-degree murder in April 2024.
Although the road rage incident took place after the female accused turned 19, she cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act due to her age at the time of the murder charge.
(2).png)
According to Crown prosecutor Kurt Froehlich, the road rage incident occurred in November 2024 in a downtown Penticton hotel parking lot.
A stranger criticized the young woman’s driving, leading to a brief verbal exchange. She then followed him, parked, approached him on foot, and struck him in the face. The unprovoked assault, which was captured on video, was later reported to police.
The attack violated her bail conditions in the murder case and resulted in 13 days of custody before she was re-released under stricter terms.
Froehlich described the assault as “a serious aggravating factor,” noting how unusual it is for someone on bail for murder to commit another violent offence.
He recommended a sentence of three to six months in jail, followed by two years’ probation, including mandatory anger management and a no-contact order with the victim.
Defense lawyer Cory Armour argued for a conditional sentence to be served in the community, citing his client’s remorse, stable living situation with her grandmother, full-time employment, and efforts to turn her life around.
Armour submitted five letters of support and noted her grief over the recent loss of her stepfather, as well as the stress of facing upgraded murder charges.
“She is committed to staying on a straight path,” Armour said, urging the court to avoid further incarceration.
However, Justice Jung ruled that only a custodial sentence could deter similar behaviour, especially considering the girl was already under strict bail conditions at the time of the assault.
Jung warned the girl that failure to comply with probation conditions after release could result in further charges, detention, and additional jail time.
Case Developments in Savage’s Death
One of the two male young offenders charged alongside the girl in Savage’s death remains in custody. He is awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for June 24 in Kelowna after violating bail conditions twice in recent weeks. He has been in jail since his second breach.
On May 16, the youth pleaded guilty to breaching a court-ordered curfew. The Crown is seeking a 30-day sentence or potentially longer due to his subsequent arrest. Defence lawyer Nelson Selemaj requested a pre-sentence report, but Froehlich argued it was unnecessary given the existence of a prior Gladue Report. Judge Greg Koturbash postponed sentencing to hear from the youth’s community service officer.
Crown filed direct indictments three weeks ago against all four individuals charged, eliminating the need for preliminary hearings.
All three youth co-accused will be tried together before a judge and jury. Jack, the adult accused, will face a separate trial, also before a judge and jury. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 14. Jack remains free under strict bail conditions.
