Sentence appeals granted in 3 Alberta multiple murder cases
Four convicted multiple murderers in Alberta will be offered the chance to plead their cases to a parole board much earlier after series of appeal decisions on Friday.
Derek Saretzky, Edward Downey, Joshua Frank and Jason Klaus all had their sentence appeals granted by the Alberta Court of Appeal in Calgary.
Frank and Klaus were each convicted of three counts of first-degree murder after the bodies of Klaus's father and sister were discovered in their burnt-out farmhouse near Red Deer, Alta., in 2013. His mother's body was never found.
They were ordered to serve 50 years before applying for release.
Downey killed Sara Baillie and her five-year-old daughter, Taliyah Marsman, in Calgary in 2016. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years.
Saretzky was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder in the 2015 deaths of Terry Blanchette, his two-year-old daughter, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette; and neighbour Hanne Meketech in Blairmore, Alta. He was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 75 years.
The men all appealed their sentences based on the case involving another multiple murderer in Canada's top court.
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.
In that case, the Supreme Court of Canada decided life sentences with no chance of parole were considered "cruel and unusual punishment" and therefore "unconstitutional."
As a result, Bissonette's sentence was changed to allow him to be eligible for parole in 25 years.
That means all of the Alberta men will be allowed to apply for parole in the same period of time.
LOOKING TO REHABILITATION
Jeff Rybak, an Alberta-based parole lawyer, said the "outcome is inevitable" for other convicted killers who apply for sentencing changes based on the same circumstances.
"Realistically thinking, it's a couple dozen cases in Canada where this applies," he said during an interview with CTV News.
"Everybody who is convicted of first-degree murder is on a life sentence. Period. What we're talking about here is parole ineligibility."
However, just because these men are allowed the chance to apply for parole at 25 years, it doesn't mean they will be released, Rybak said.
"I would be shocked if there were ever a mass murderer convicted of more than one count of first degree murder who ever got out on the nose at 25 years or anywhere close to it."
He adds all convicted murderers will be in the federal prison system for a very long time, which allows them to access a multitude of rehabilitative programs and be examined by a large number of experts.
"Very gradually progressing to some form of release in the future."
Rybak says it is that possibility that the justice system wanted to preserve with its decision in the Bissonnette case.
"If we create laws that refute that possibility and say, 'it is impossible for some people to be redeemed," what is that saying about ourselves as a society?"
(With files from The Canadian Press)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.