WEDNESDAY January 23, 2013 Vol. 28•No. 7 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
It’s whe
ARTS
SPORTS
The Spanish heat will radiate this weekend during Strathcona Symphony Orchestra performances. page 25
Comox boarder Darcy Sharpe wowed a crowd at the 11th Red Bull Nanshan Open Finals in Beijing. page 26
RECORD
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Stabbing‘stupid’ pronounces judge Erin Haluschak
various factors for his decision, which included a psychological Record Staff report, the circumstances of the A Comox Valley teen will spend offence, legislation and the victim the next four years in custody on impact statements. He cited “accountability is the top of time already served for the second-degree murder of James central feature of whether to Denton, Justice R.B.T. Goepel impose an adult sentence,” and ruled Friday morning in a Cour- based on the facts the accused did not have a prior criminal tenay courtroom. About a year and a half after record, he expressed remorse for what began as a verbal alter- his actions, and his risk of reofcation between two groups of fending is low, he did not order an friends escalated to the eventual adult sentence. Goepel did not include 18 death of 19-year-old Denton, Goemonths time served pel handed down his by the accused, and sentencing. What you did would see him serve The packed courtroom heard Goepel was inherently stu- the four custodial levy the maximum pid, abhorrent and years at the Victoria Youth Custody sentence for secondCentre, followed by degree murder under horrifying. What three years of comthe Youth Criminal you did can never munity supervision Justice Act. be undone. and conditions. Goepel previR.B.T. Goepel An adult sentence ously ruled that the for second-degree teen, who cannot be named due to conditions of the murder carries an automatic life in prison, with full parole eligibilYCJA, was guilty. Crown prosecutor Gordon ity after five years, and commuBaines noted immediately follow- nity supervision for life. Denton, 19, was stabbed twice ing the conclusion of the trial in June that he would seek an adult near the entrance to G.P. Vanier sentence. To support his request, Secondary School following a July Baines presented six aggravating 2011 day-long music festival at facts to Goepel including that the the nearby Comox Valley Exhibiaccused brought a weapon to a tion Grounds. He was raised in Port Hardy, public event, that he provoked the fight, and the attack with a knife but moved to the Comox Valley several years ago and attended was done without warning. However, Goepel imposed the Highland Secondary School in maximum sentence under the Comox. During his reasons for sentencYCJA. “What you did was inherent- ing, Goepel addressed the Denton ly stupid, abhorrent and horri- family directly. “James was everything a parfying. What you did can never be undone,” said Goepel as he ent would want a son, brother and friend to be. There are no words addressed the accused directly. Goepel reviewed in his reasons ... see NO JUSTICE ■ 2
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DOLLARS FOR HOUSING Alexandria Maillot and Joey Clarkson perform during a House the Kids Built fundraiser for Habitat For Humanity. More than $1,450 was raised Saturday at the Native Sons’ Hall. PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
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