Moncton RCMP killer Justin Bourque given 75-year sentence without parole

[unreadierLizard]

Source: Globe And Mail

Justin Bourque has been sentenced to serve 75 years in prison before becoming eligible to apply for parole for the June 4 shooting rampage that killed three RCMP officers and wounded two others in Moncton.

Judge David Smith of the Court of Queen’s Bench in New Brunswick delivered his precedent-setting ruling today after a sentencing hearing earlier this week during which Bourque apologized to the families of the Mounties he shot.

Bourque’s sentence is the harshest in Canada since the last executions in 1962.

He pleaded guilty in August to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The 24-year-old was facing a mandatory life sentence, so the only issue for Smith to decide was when he could apply for parole.

The Crown sought the maximum sentence of 75 years under a section of the Criminal Code that was amended in 2011.

The defence argued for parole eligibility to be set at 50 years.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bourque-sentence/article21397474/

[dbackjon]

1. They didn't label this terrorism

But were quick to label the attacks by Muslin converts as terrorism.

[unreadierLizard]

2. My guess is that it has to do

with the fact that this guy had no manifesto to carry out attacks. He just did.

Whereas Muslim extremists do it for their "religion".

[MADem]

3. Well, that's a life sentence. No matter what they call it. Unless he has incredible genetics.

Tough for Canada, but they've been moving rightward down the years.

[unreadierLizard]

4. What??

This guy killed THREE people. Three RCMP officers, to boot.

Five life sentences without parole for 75 years is fair.

[MADem]

5. I'm not arguing with the sentence. I think it's very fair. Actually, I'd go for a flat life

sentence, no parole, never, ever. Lock 'em up, toss the key.

Canada never seemed, in the past, to sentence murderers for very long. I'd see 20 and 25 year sentences, and think "Wow, that's not much for a life." It seems in recent years they've been a bit firmer on sentencing than in the past.

[unreadierLizard]

6. Usually

When a person is convicted of first-degree murder, they are sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibly of parole after 20 years.

[MADem]

7. Yes, that's why I thought this sentence was tougher than usual.

It's appropriate, though.

[OnlinePoker]

9. I believe the government changed the law when it comes to killing police officers

Mandatory 25 years and for multiple killings, the sentences are consecutive, not concurrent as occurs with non-police killings.

[MADem]

10. Ah, that makes sense--it is common for crimes against LEA to be treated more harshly. nt

[freshwest]

8. So he'll be 99 years old then. He may live to get out. Hopefully too old to cause more mischief.

By that time, who knows what the world will be like?

Regrets to the families and for whatever good those RCMP might have been able to do in the next 75 years that were stolen from them by this egomaniac.