Man Kills Friend With Axe After Fishing Fight

Chignik Lake man will spend the next 35 years behind bars after killing his best friend with an axe during an argument over who was the better fisherman.

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By Carolyn Kuckertz

Story Created: Feb 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2011 at 2:22 PM AKDT

Original article posted July 27, 2010

Chignik Lake man will spend the next 35 years behind bars after killing his best friend with an axe during an argument over who was the better fisherman. 

A judge sentenced 25-year-old Edwin Pedersen to 75 years in prison, with 40 years suspended and 10 years probation for the death of John Kalmakoff.
 
Troopers say on August 14th, 2009, Pedersen, who was drunk, got into an argument with Kalmakoff over who was the better fisherman.   The argument escalated, and ended with Pedersen beating Kalmakoff to death on his head and face with the blunt end of an axe.
 
Prosecutors say the men had just returned to Pedersen's house in Chignik Lake from commercial fishing.
 
In April, Pedersen pled guilty second-degree murder.
 
At Pedersen's sentencing on July 26th, Kalmakoff's family testified about the gut-wrenching pain caused by his death.
 
"Not a day goes by when I don't think about John," said Nana Kalmakoff, John's mother.  She went on to tell Superior Court Judge Fred Torrisi that losing a child is the worse thing that can happen to a parent.
 
Prosecutors also read a statement from Kalmakoff's father, who was in court, but did not wish to speak.
 
In the statement, Harry Kalmakoff said his son was well-liked and always willing to help others.  He said his family was a having a hard time dealing with John's death, especially his two younger sisters.  He also said Kalmakoff left behind a large extended family that stretches through several communities in the Bristol Bay region.
 
Pedersen then took his turn to address Kalmakoff family as well as the court.  He said he knew what he did was unforgivable and caused a lot of pain, and he didn't mean to kill his close friend.  
 
Judge Torrisi said he considered the pain felt by the Kalmakoff family as a factor in Pedersen's sentence. 
 
The judge also said this was not a typical murder, considering how severe the beating was, and Pedersen's two previous misdemeanor convictions for assaults.
 
Judge Torrisi concluded the sentencing by saying Pedersen would not be a young man when he gets out of prison, and if he commits any crimes when he does, he'll be back behind bars for another 40 years.

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