G. Fillmore

The accused pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the prolonged assault and torture of a vulnerable victim in the context of the drug trade.

The Crown sought an 18-year period of parole ineligibility, while the accused sought 12 years.

The court emphasized denunciation and deterrence, noting the victim's vulnerability and the brutal nature of the murder.

The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 16 years.

The accused was charged with second-degree murder, uttering death threats, and forcible confinement following the stabbing death of his brother's common-law partner.

The Crown's case relied on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of three highly intoxicated witnesses, which contained inconsistencies.

The court accepted the evidence that the accused had a knife, threatened the occupants, and fled the scene before police arrived.

Applying the test for circumstantial evidence, the court found that the only reasonable inference was that the accused stabbed the victim and had the requisite intent for murder despite his intoxication.

The accused was found guilty on all counts.