Mom to son’s killer: ‘burn in hell’

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This article was published 26/06/2016 (2852 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg mother delivered a searing message to her son’s killer in court while pleading with the judge to lower the boom against him.

“You took my child from me. I hate you. I despise you. Who gave you the right to take someone’s life? You are a coward. The worst coward ever,” Natalie Matinet said while reading her victim impact statement.

Darren George, 22, was shot twice — in the back of the head, and the back of the legs — while walking down a West End alley in December 2011. 

Cody Joseph Kakeeway, 22, was convicted of second-degree murder following a jury trial last winter. He now faces an automatic life sentence, with the only question being parole eligibility. Kakeeway is seeking to have it remain at the mandatory minimum of ten years, while the Crown wants it raised to 17.

Queen’s Bench Justice Karen Simonsen has reserved her decision until July 14.

During the trial, jurors heard that Kakeeway opened fire on George because he believed he was a member of the Manitoba Warriors gang. George was actually affiliated with the Native Syndicate gang and had been selling crack cocaine in the area shortly before he was gunned down

Kakeeway was a member of the rival Mad Cowz gang.

“You deserve the maximum possible sentence. I hope and pray you suffer the worst in life. My son begged for his life and still you killed him,” Matinet said Monday. “You have no heart, no soul. You deserve to burn in hell. May your dreams and hopes be filled with dread and darkness.”

The key witnesses against Kakeeway at trial were other members of his gang who testified against him and identified him as the shooter.  He has been described as a high risk to re-offend and someone with little insight or remorse into his crime.

“This is not someone who can be safely managed in the community,” said Crown attorney Jocelyn Ritchot in asking for the increased parole eligibility. She told court that Kakeeway has continued to be a menace behind bars since his arrest, with 42 institutional incidents on his record.

Defence lawyer Todd Bourcier told court his client has suffered a horrific upbringing which likely includes having fetal alcohol syndrome. He urged Simonsen to keep parole eligibility at the minimum and let prison officials decide when, or if, Kakeeway ever gets released.

“I’d just like to apologize to the family. I feel really sorry for what happened,” Kakeeway told court Monday.

A co-accused, Chance Guimond, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his role in the slaying and was given a 12-year prison sentence.

www.mikeoncrime.com