In a verdict delivered on Wednesday, a man who fatally attacked three individuals in Winnipeg’s Point Douglas area in 2022 when he was 15 years old received an adult life imprisonment sentence. Justice Gerald Chartier justified the decision by stating that holding the man accountable for his deliberate and planned assaults at the age of 15 required an adult sentencing approach.
The man, along with another 15-year-old, brutally assaulted 36-year-old Danielle Dawn Ballantyne, 51-year-old Troy Baguley, and 54-year-old Marvin William Felix, who was wheelchair-bound due to amputation, within close proximity to each other in the early hours of August 22, 2022. Ballantyne and Felix succumbed to their injuries, while Baguley sustained a traumatic brain injury and passed away in 2023.
The attacks, involving repeated kicking and stomping within a short timeframe, were deemed “vicious and brutal” by the court. The man pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Ballantyne and Felix, and one count of manslaughter for Baguley’s death earlier this year.
Despite recommendations for a maximum youth sentence from the defense, the prosecution pushed for an adult sentence, entailing automatic life imprisonment for the second-degree murder charges. The man will not be eligible for parole for seven years, in line with the Crown’s recommendation.
Prior to the fatal incidents, the teen had a history of assaults and weapon-related offenses, exhibiting a high risk of reoffending as per court records. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and mild intellectual disability, reports indicated his susceptibility to repeat offenses.
During a psychiatric evaluation, the man attributed the attacks to alcohol and drug consumption, expressing confusion over his actions. However, the judge highlighted that the deliberate targeting of vulnerable victims suggested a calculated motive behind the assaults. Despite cognitive limitations, the prosecution successfully argued that the man possessed an adult-like moral awareness, evident in his choice to continue the assaults despite recognizing the harm caused.
The man’s co-accused also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges, with a manslaughter charge being dropped. Another individual, Tristan Colten Moose, who participated in one of the beatings, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison last year.