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August 29, 2017 - 1:03 PM
KAMLOOPS - After spending years in a provincial facility, the gunman behind the death of a 22-year-old man has decided a federal penitentiary may be the best place for him.
The convicted killer was 16 years old at the time of Tyler Myers' murder, so he was sentenced as a youth earlier this year. His name cannot be made public due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
He received a 10-year sentence for his crime, including serving six years in custody and four years on community supervision. His lawyer Donna Turko also asked for her client to serve his time in a provincial facility.
But yesterday, Aug. 28, counsel for B.C.'s Provincial Director filed an application seeking approval to direct a transfer within corrections for the now 25-year-old gunman.
Should the man be transferred to a federal penitentiary, he would have to go through a 70-day assessment period, after which he would get a classification of either maximum, medium, or minimum security.
The convict's lawyer, Donna Turko, told the court that her client has been in the provincial system for so long he's virtually taken advantage of all the programs he could, which is why he wants to be moved to a federal facility.
Turko's biggest concern was that her client would have to spend two years in Kent Institution, like other people convicted of murder. But counsel for the Provincial Director said spending two years at Kent is only mandatory if the murderer is serving a life sentence.
But she's cautioned her client about the reality of the federal system.
"He's aware of the possibility that the grass may not be as green as he thinks it is," Turko said.
She's optimistic that the man will not end up in maximum security and will have the opportunity to take advantage of the programs offered in federal for the remainder of his sentence.
Kamloops Supreme Court judge Sheri Donegan agreed to grant the application. It's not known if or when the man will be transferred.
The gunman was 16 years old when he was in a relationship with 17-year-old Monica Sikorski back in 2008, who was also dating Myers at the same time. Sikorski can be named because she received an adult sentence.
Myers was shot and killed in November 2008, after being lured to an area near a Salmon Arm elementary school by Sikorski. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and was sentenced as an adult to life in prison with no eligibility of parole for seven years.
The man and Sikorski went four years before they were finally charged in connection to Myers's murder.
For more on this case, go here.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017