Latest news with #LucianoMariani
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Baseball-bat killer who successfully challenged murder parole provision in B.C. court gets life
The B.C. Supreme Court has sentenced a man to life in prison with no parole or 25 years for beating his ex-girlfriend to death with a baseball bat as she slept beside her young daughter in 2021. The court ruling posted Monday says Luciano Mariani's killing of Caroline Bernard in her home in Bowser, B.C., was a crime of "obscene brutality" that was planned in advance for months. Mariani had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, but filed a successful constitutional challenge against a provision in Canada's Criminal Code preventing those convicted of the crime from applying for parole for 25 years. The court agreed in January that it was unconstitutional to treat all offenders convicted of first-degree murder the same, but Justice Robin Baird says in sentencing that there was "nothing disproportionate about the mandatory penalty" for Mariani. Baird's ruling says the murder was "exceptionally violent," cold-blooded and against a vulnerable former intimate partner. Judge Baird's ruling says Mariani may apply to reduce his parole eligibility period after 15 years, but there's no "guarantee that it will be granted." "This was, it goes quite without saying, a crime of obscene brutality with maximally aggravating features fully justifying the severe penalty that the law requires me to impose," Baird's ruling says. "The damage that you have done to Ms. Bernard's family and friends is profound and permanent. The magnitude of the insult and injury that you have inflicted upon our local community is enormous. And first and foremost, you have brutally extinguished the life of a fine young woman who was beloved by all who knew her."
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
'Obscene brutality': B.C. baseball-bat killer gets life term despite constitutional ruling
The B.C. court ruling says the murder was "exceptionally violent," cold-blooded and against a vulnerable former intimate partner. Published Jul 14, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 1 minute read VANCOUVER, BC., March 24, 2020 - Scenics from the BC Supreme Court as emergency matters are still being heard at but with video conferences, and just a clerk alone in a courtroom to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Vancouver, BC., March 24, 2020. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG) 00060799A ORG XMIT: 00060799A [PNG Merlin Archive] Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG The B.C. Supreme Court has sentenced a man to life in prison without parole eligibility for 25 years for beating his ex-girlfriend to death with a baseball bat as she slept beside her young daughter in 2021. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The court ruling posted Monday says Luciano Mariani's killing of Caroline Bernard in her home in Bowser was a crime of 'obscene brutality' that was planned for months in advance. Mariani had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder but filed a successful constitutional challenge against a provision in Canada's Criminal Code preventing those convicted of the crime from applying for parole for 25 years. The court agreed in January that it was unconstitutional to treat all offenders convicted of first-degree murder the same, but Justice Robin Baird says in sentencing that there was 'nothing disproportionate about the mandatory penalty' for Mariani. Baird's ruling says the murder was 'exceptionally violent,' cold-blooded and against a vulnerable, former, intimate partner. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Baird's ruling says Mariani may apply to reduce his parole eligibility period after 15 years, but there's no 'guarantee that it will be granted.' 'This was, it goes quite without saying, a crime of obscene brutality with maximally aggravating features fully justifying the severe penalty that the law requires me to impose,' Baird's ruling says. 'The damage that you have done to Ms. Bernard's family and friends is profound and permanent. The magnitude of the insult and injury that you have inflicted upon our local community is enormous. And first and foremost, you have brutally extinguished the life of a fine young woman who was beloved by all who knew her.' Baird said murderers serving life sentences get denied parole for many years after becoming eligible to apply, 'and of course the most serious, dangerous and high‑risk offenders never succeed in getting it.' Read More Columnists Golf NFL NHL Canada
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
‘Obscene brutality': Baseball-bat killer gets life term despite constitutional ruling
The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck The B.C. Supreme Court has sentenced a man to life in prison without parole eligibility for 25 years for beating his ex-girlfriend to death with a baseball bat as she slept beside her young daughter in 2021. The court ruling posted Monday says Luciano Mariani's killing of Caroline Bernard in her home in Bowser, B.C., was a crime of 'obscene brutality' that was planned in advance for months. Mariani had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, but filed a successful constitutional challenge against a provision in Canada's Criminal Code preventing those convicted of the crime from applying for parole for 25 years. The court agreed in January that it was unconstitutional to treat all offenders convicted of first-degree murder the same, but Justice Robin Baird says in sentencing that there was 'nothing disproportionate about the mandatory penalty' for Mariani. Baird's ruling says the murder was 'exceptionally violent,' cold-blooded and against a vulnerable former intimate partner. Judge Baird's ruling says Mariani may apply to reduce his parole eligibility period after 15 years, but there's no 'guarantee that it will be granted.' 'This was, it goes quite without saying, a crime of obscene brutality with maximally aggravating features fully justifying the severe penalty that the law requires me to impose,' Baird's ruling says. 'The damage that you have done to Ms. Bernard's family and friends is profound and permanent. The magnitude of the insult and injury that you have inflicted upon our local community is enormous. And first and foremost, you have brutally extinguished the life of a fine young woman who was beloved by all who knew her.' Baird said murderers serving life sentences get denied parole for many years after becoming eligible to apply, 'and of course the most serious, dangerous and high‑risk offenders never succeed in getting it.' This report by Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press, was first published July 14, 2025.
