'Unprovoked and senseless': Sentencing starts for man who robbed and killed a retired Prince Albert bus driver
On Wednesday, court heard sentencing arguments for a man who killed a retired Prince Albert bus driver during a robbery.
In March 2020, David Maxemiuk was returning home after visiting his sister Violet.
The 61-year-old was found unconscious on the ground near his garage a back alley in Prince Albert’s Midtown neighbourhood. He later died in hospital in Saskatoon.
Earlier this year, Kenny Morin, 22, was found guilty of manslaughter and robbery in connection to Maxemiuk's death.
Video surveillance shows the attack lasted only 25 seconds where Morin delivered eight to nine blows to Maxemiuk and then took his wallet and made no attempt to assist the victim.
Maxemiuk’s sister says it’s been difficult for her to come to grips with his death.
“It was unexpected. It wasn’t due to natural means,” Violet Maxemiuk told CTV News outside court on Wednesday.
She says he was a happy person who was looking forward to full retirement.
“I enjoyed his company, he was more than just a brother, he was a friend to me and he helped me a great deal. He’s going to sadly be missed by me and others,” she said.
The Crown has asked for the maximum sentence for manslaughter of 15 years, arguing the attack was “unprovoked and senseless”.
She said the two men were strangers and the interaction occurred for no apparent reason.
A police officer who attended the scene testified that he could not determine Maxemiuk’s ethnicity due to the bruising and swelling on his face.
Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to a hospital in Saskatoon the day of the attack and died five days later.
Morin’s defence lawyer says an appropriate sentence for the crime would be six years and six months.
In a victim impact statement, his niece said Maxemiuk was kind and would often help the elderly and homeless.
After the sentencing arguments were made, Morin’s mother, Clara Morin addressed the court. She says she moved her family from Sandy Bay to Prince Albert in search of a better life and that she wished her son had received help while incarcerated in a provincial jail for previous offences.
"My son doesn’t have the counselling and the resources that he needs,” said Clara Morin.
She said her son used to help her do homecare and was a hard worker. She also apologized to the family for his actions.
“My condolences to the family. I never thought that this was going to happen to my children,” said Morin’s mother.
When given a chance to speak in court Morin addressed the family and said, “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
The Crown also referenced Morin’s prior convictions and stated that Morin committed the attack only a few months after being released from jail after serving a sentence for an assault conviction.
The case returns to Court of Queen’s Bench in Prince Albert on Aug. 2 when Justice G.A. Meschishnick is expected to sentence Morin.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.