'Grave injustice': SCC ruling could change sentence for Alberta's multiple murderers
A southern Alberta man who killed three people, including a two-year-old girl, could have the ability to request a release from jail earlier than his original sentence intended, thanks to a landmark Supreme Court decision Friday.
Derek Saretzky was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2015 deaths of Terry Blanchette, his two-year-old daughter, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and Hanne Meketech. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences, making him ineligible for parole for 75 years.
Now, following the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling that life sentences with no real chance of parole is 'cruel' and unusual punishment and therefore 'unconstitutional', that sentence could change.
The decision centred on Alexandre Bissonnette, the gunman who killed six worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City in 2017 and was initially sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 40 years.
With Friday’s decision, Bissonnette will have the ability to meet with the parole board after 25 years.
“Deception of this decision because it doesn't take in consideration the atrocity of this tragedy. Killing six persons and seriously injuring five others,” said Mohamed Labidi, president of the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre.
The landmark ruling will have implications for all offenders convicted of multiple first-degree murder charges in Canada back to 2011 as well as those currently before the courts.
Three individuals from Alberta – Douglas Garland, Edward Downey and Saretzky – were sentenced to life in prison with no parole for between 50 and 75 years.
Saretzky appealed that term and his lawyer, Balfour Der, said he'd be 97 before he'd ever see a parole board.
“This decision is not, and the law has never been that a person gets parole after 25 years – it's to simply ask for parole from the parole board,” Der told CTV News during an interview on Friday.
In 2011, the Canadian government gave justices the ability to hand out consecutive sentences of parole ineligibility, rather than concurrent blocks of 25 years.
The Alberta Court of Appeal said last year it would hear Saretzky’s appeal, but only after the Supreme Court decided on the Bissonnette case.
Now that’s that’s been done, his lawyer says the decision will be clear.
“So, that his (Saretzky’s) appeal would be successful because it's the exact same issue that the Supreme Court of Canada has just decided on,” said Der.
Victims’ advocates and some politicians are outraged with the decision.
“My thoughts first go to the victims and their families,” said Michelle Rempel Garner, MP for Calgary Nose Hill. “I think that this ruling has a significant possibility to re-victimize these families and, to me, that's not how justice should work.”
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti, tweeted he disagreed with the court's decision, but also respects it and will review its implications.
“We will continue to stand with those affected by this terrible crime and support them,” he wrote on Twitter.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper, whose government brought in consecutive sentencing, tweeted his outrage, calling it a “grave injustice” and urged parliament to “take action”.
Aside from Alberta, the ruling could also change the sentences for more than a dozen mass killers currently serving time behind bars.
However, Der suggested even people who commit the most unimaginable crimes can change while in prison and over time.
“There's always a chance someone can be rehabilitated, so the words of the Supreme Court is we have to leave the door open for someone, to give them hope, to try their best to be rehabilitated because they may get out.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.