Latest news with #CourtOfKingsBench
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
‘Senseless and unexplained': Judge sentences Alberta man to life for 2022 shooting
The Alberta Coat of Arms is shown at the Edmonton Law Courts building in Edmonton on June 28, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson PEACE RIVER — An Alberta man convicted last year of killing a man by shooting him in the back of the head has been sentenced to life in prison. In November, a judge found Brenon Gray guilty of second-degree murder in the 2022 death of 35-year-old Romeo Flett at his home in Cadotte Lake, Alta., northeast of Peace River. Court of King's Bench Justice Anna Loparco, in a written decision, says the gravity of the offence is significant and calls it a 'senseless and unexplained crime.' A female witness told court the two men were talking and she heard Gray, who was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, say to Flett: 'I should shoot you.' Court heard their conversation turned to whether Flett knew anything about the death of a man named Keith, before witnesses heard a 'loud bang' and found Flett lying on the floor. Gray fled the home and was the subject of a massive police search that ended two months after the shooting. 'For the foregoing reasons, I confirm Mr. Gray's sentence of imprisonment for life and include an order that he not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served a period of 12 years of imprisonment,' Loparco says in the decision. Flett's mother, in a victim impact statement, said the day of her son's murder his oldest son phoned to tell him his first granddaughter was born, but he never got to meet her. Cadotte Lake, which is part of Woodland Cree First Nation, is about 500 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. The Canadian Press
CBC
7 days ago
- CBC
Calgary parents get 6-year sentence after toddler dies from scalding water in diaper
A Calgary mother and father who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after leaving their toddler sitting in a diaper of scalding hot water have each been sentenced to six years in prison. "Their actions indicate a wanton disregard for the safety of Gabriel," Justice Glen Poelman of Court of King's Bench said Wednesday at the sentencing of Michael Sinclair and Sonya Pasqua. "The circumstances of the event are extremely grave," Poelman added, as Sinclair looked at the floor and Pasqua cried softly. Sinclair was given roughly 3 1/2 years credit for time already served in custody, while Pasqua received about 1 1/2 years credit. Before sentencing, the parents told court they're extremely sorry and heartbroken over the death of their 18-month old son in 2021. "I miss Gabriel," a sobbing Pasqua told court. "I am sorry. Nothing will take away the pain of the loss of my son. I failed. I just love my kids so much. "I have to live with this forever." Sinclair said, "I am sorry to everyone who is involved in this tragedy. I loved my son unconditionally. To this day I don't know why I didn't have the courage to call an ambulance." Court heard the child received head trauma and was scalded, with the burns covering a third of his body, after he was left to sit in a diaper containing the steaming water. A pediatric surgeon earlier told court the scalding was so severe the boy should have received immediate care, but the parents didn't seek help and tried to treat the burns with honey. The Crown had asked for a sentence of eight to 12 years in prison, while defence lawyers requested three and five years. Crown prosecutor Vicki Faulkner had described the crime as at the highest end of moral culpability and said the parents saw the boy as a paycheque. Court heard the boy was taken social services as a newborn after his mother tested positive for cocaine, alcohol and marijuana. He was placed in a loving home with his great-uncle, Gerry Bakoway, but was returned to his biological parents months before he died. Court heard the boy died of blunt force head trauma and the untreated burns that led to sepsis. Family members sat quietly throughout the sentencing, wearing orange T-shirts with Gabriel's name and photo. Outside court, Bakoway told reporters he believes the apologies from his niece and her husband were sincere. "They obviously made a mistake. Everyone makes a mistake in this," he said. "Gabriel should have stayed with us, even if it was a little while longer. The sentencing for us doesn't really matter. Nothing will bring Gabriel back."
National Post
19-07-2025
- National Post
Alberta serial romance scammer fights court ruling keeping him in prison indefinitely
EDMONTON — A serial romance fraudster who faked brain cancer and used other schemes to bilk Alberta women out of thousands of dollars is fighting a court ruling to keep him in prison indefinitely. Article content Jeffrey Kent's lawyer says he has filed a notice of appeal challenging the recent ruling by an Edmonton Court of King's Bench judge to designate his client a dangerous offender. Article content Article content The designation is used to keep repeat dangerous offenders in prison for the rest of their lives pending periodic reviews by parole officials. Article content Article content Last month, a judge ruled Kent's crimes are of such a serious, harmful nature, and that — coupled with evidence suggesting he will continue such crimes if released — justifies making him a dangerous offender. Article content Court heard Kent bilked five women by romancing them and pretending to be a doctor, lawyer and businessman, and getting them to invest in bogus real estate schemes while running up their credit cards, faking brain cancer to garner sympathy and, in one case, fathering a child by one of them. Article content
CBC
18-07-2025
- CBC
Alberta serial romance scammer fights dangerous offender designation
A serial romance fraudster who faked brain cancer and used other schemes to bilk Alberta women out of thousands of dollars is fighting a court ruling to keep him in prison indefinitely. Jeffrey Kent's lawyer says he has filed a notice of appeal challenging the recent ruling by an Edmonton Court of King's Bench judge to designate his client a dangerous offender. The designation is used to keep repeat dangerous offenders in prison for the rest of their lives pending periodic reviews by parole officials. Kent's lawyer says dangerous offender rulings are usually reserved for those who commit violence. Court had previously heard Kent bilked five women by romancing them and pretending to be a doctor, lawyer and businessman, and getting them to invest in bogus real estate schemes while running up their credit cards, faking brain cancer to garner sympathy and, in one case, fathering a child by one of them. The 55-year-old Kent has other fraud and theft convictions under similar circumstances that date back more than three decades. Beginning in B.C., in 1990, he gained women's trust, then stole their money, typically spending it on gambling. Some lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kent, and two became so deeply involved that they had a child with him, learning only after they were pregnant about the extent of his deception. Dangerous offender status can be considered only if someone is convicted of a "serious personal injury offence," and fraud isn't typically in that category. Last month, a judge ruled Kent's crimes are of such a serious, harmful nature, and that — coupled with evidence suggesting he will continue such crimes if released — justifies making him a dangerous offender. Court of King's Bench Justice Melanie Hayes-Richards ruled that an indeterminate sentence was required, concluding it's the only way to manage the risk Kent and his "pattern is the deep deception" poses. "Using lie upon lie, he inserted himself into his victims' lives, promising a bright and secure future. Instead, he wreaked havoc. He destroyed their finances and left some financially destitute. He shattered their confidence, self-worth and ability to trust others," Hayes-Richards said in her decision.
CBC
17-07-2025
- CBC
Teen accused of setting classmate on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate re-elects trial by judge alone
A Saskatoon teen who is charged with setting a classmate on fire will stand trial by judge alone. The 15-year-old had previously chosen a jury trial at Court of King's Bench, but she changed that election on July 16. The accused and the teenage victim cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Prosecutor Ainsley Furlonger said there is no trial date set yet. The teen's lawyer is waiting for the results of an unspecified assessment, which is expected early next month. Furlonger said a case management meeting is set for Aug. 27. Furlonger filed a direct indictment against the 15-year-old girl in April, meaning there won't be any preliminary hearings where evidence can be tested. The indictment contains two charges: that the teen attempted to murder a classmate at Evan Hardy Collegiate by setting her on fire and that she caused bodily harm to the teacher who was injured when he tried to put out the fire. The incident happened in the first week of school in September 2024. The victim sustained burns to 40 per cent of her body after the accused allegedly poured a flammable liquid on her head and torso and lit her on fire in a hallway outside a classroom, just before lunch. The Crown previously gave notice in provincial court that it intends to seek an adult sentence for the teen, if she is convicted.
