Alberta man who killed Métis hunters sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 13 years | 24CA News

An Alberta man was sentenced on Friday to life in jail with out parole eligibility for 13 years within the second-degree homicide of Métis hunter Maurice Cardinal.

Anthony Bilodeau was additionally sentenced to eight years for the manslaughter demise of Jacob Sansom. The sentences shall be served concurrently. 

Court of King’s Bench Justice Eric Macklin granted the 34-year-old 33 months credit score for time already served.

While noting that Anthony’s prospect of rehabilitation is excessive, Macklin stated the sentence wanted to mirror the tragic penalties of the crime.

“Jacob Sansom and Maurice Cardinal were also pillars of their communities,” the choose stated. “They were hunters and teachers for their families as well as their communities”

The small Edmonton courtroom was filled with household and supporters of each the 2 victims and the convicted killer, and a gaggle of supporters of Sansom, 39, and Cardinal, 57, waited outdoors the courthouse as properly. 

The victims’ supporters held one another and wept when the sentence was learn out. Though the household has been outspoken all through the court docket case, they stated they want time to course of earlier than commenting on the sentence.

“All the days since that day have been really tough for this family and this community and no amount of justice will ever ease their pain or bring the boys back,” stated Andrea Sandmaier, president for Region 2 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, talking outdoors the courthouse.

Anthony’s father Roger Bilodeau was sentenced final 12 months to 10 years for his personal manslaughter convictions within the two males’s March 2020 taking pictures deaths.

The father and son had been discovered responsible final May within the deaths of Sansom and Cardinal, who had been shot and killed on a rural Alberta street after a short pursuit. 

During the trial, the jury heard that whereas Roger was the preliminary pursuer of the 2 hunters, his son who he referred to as to assist was the one who shot each victims.

The Crown had beforehand instructed the court docket the killings had been a case of the Bilodeaus taking the legislation into their very own arms and Sansom and Cardinal had finished nothing flawed. 

Court beforehand heard that Sansom and Cardinal had spent March 27, 2020, moose looking, then socializing with buddies.

A second-degree homicide conviction comes with an automated life sentence. Prosecutor Jordan Kerr argued that Anthony shouldn’t be eligible to use for parole for 15 years.

Crown argues aggravating elements

For the manslaughter conviction, Kerr urged the choose to dole out a 12- to 15-year sentence, describing the offence as “near murder” provided that Anthony shot Sansom within the chest with a high-powered rifle shortly after arriving on the scene.

Kerr pointed to numerous aggravating elements, together with that Anthony shot Cardinal a number of instances, that he disposed of the gun he used to shoot the lads, that he left the victims mendacity on the street after taking pictures them fairly than looking for assist, and that he and his father had been taking the legislation into their very own arms.

Kerr stated Anthony’s actions betrayed a “callous disregard for the life and well-being of the deceased.”

The trial heard that on March 27, 2020, when Roger noticed truck lights in his yard on a rural property outdoors of the village of Glendon in northern Alberta, he and his 16-year-old son jumped into his truck to present chase. He instructed court docket he thought the occupants of the vehicles might be thieves. 

The father referred to as his grownup son Anthony through the pursuit and instructed him to carry a gun. 

Seconds after he arrived on the scene, Anthony shot Sansom within the chest. Then he shot Cardinal 3 times within the again.

Defence says shopper is of excellent character

Defence lawyer Brian Beresh argued that the Crown’s proposal was too extreme, given proof of his shopper’s good character and his prospect of rehabilitation.

He argued the parole ineligibility interval ought to be set at 10 years, and that Anthony ought to get 4 years for the manslaughter conviction, to be served concurrently.

Beresh argued his shopper did not act out of malice, however fairly out of loyalty to his father who referred to as him for assist.

Speaking to media after the sentence was delivered, Beresh stated his shopper plans to attraction. He stated Anthony has religion within the justice system. 

“It’s fair to say he’s disappointed but he has been very calm throughout this process,” Beresh stated. 

Roger, who was sentenced in August, acquired credit score for 4½ years time already served. 

When sentencing the older Bilodeau, the choose described the crime as a killing of two harmless males.