Sudbury man sentenced for manslaughter after 'senseless and tragic' incident last Canada Day
After pleading guilty to manslaughter following an assault that turned fatal last July, a Sudbury man has finally learned his fate.
Denis Richer, 49, was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday for beating a man to death on Canada Day last year. The sentence is in addition to 357 days he has already spent in jail.
The case revolves around a serious assault that took place outside a home on Ferndale Avenue in the Minnow Lake neighbourhood of Greater Sudbury on July 1, 2020.
The court heard the victim -- a 44-year-old man likely suffering a mental-health crisis -- stripped naked in the street and forced his way into the home where Richer's 75-year-old widowed mother was home alone.
A fight ensued when Richer arrived, and witnesses said they heard Richer yell, "You scared my mother! She's frail."
Witnesses testified the victim swung his fists at Richer and hit him with a plastic shovel before being punched back. When the victim fell to the ground, Richer began stomping on his head until witnesses yelled at him to stop.
The autopsy revealed the cause of death was the severe impact of blunt force trauma.
Richer took off before police and the ambulance arrived. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.
Originally, a 25-year-old man who lived next door to where the fight took place was charged with attempted murder in the case, but shortly after, police dropped the charge and arrested Richer.
The charge was upgraded to second-degree murder when the victim died in hospital 11 days later. Richer ended up pleading guilty to manslaughter early on to avoid a lengthy court case, and Justice Alexander Kurke said he has expressed remorse for the crime.
Victim impact statements
The Crown and defence made a joint sentencing submission, asking for four and a half years in jail, with credit for pre-sentence custody. That was granted by the judge, who also imposed a lifetime firearms ban and a no-contact order with the victim's family.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim's two brothers and his partner of 22 years read victim impact statements that described how much he is missed and that they are not ready to forgive Richer.
One of his brothers said Richer took the law into his own hands that night and that he hopes Richer can learn to respect human life.
In his sentencing decision, Kurke said after weighing all the circumstances, the proposed sentence is an appropriate balance of rehabilitation and denunciation of the crime. He said it should send a message to others that even unintentional killings will be severely dealt with.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.