davis perpwalk

Raymond Lynn Davis leaving the court after being sentenced
 
After 26 months before the court, a sentence was handed down in a Swift Current homicide case.

park perpwalk

John Donovan Park leaving the court after being sentenced 

John Donovan Park of Swift Current and Raymond Lynn Davis of Medicine Hat pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the April 6, 2010 death of Roland Ruest that occurred during a robbery at his home in the city.

Court of Queen's Bench heard the details of the investigation into the incident during a sentencing hearing on Thursday in Swift Current. The investigation found that Park and Davis, who had consumed crack cocaine and alcohol that night, went to Ruest's home along with another man, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Park and Davis proceeded to enter the home to Rob Ruest of money and drugs, while the youth stayed behind in a vehicle outside of the home. Park held Ruest in a headlock while Davis searched the home, returning periodically to beat the victim. The three men fled the home without taking anything, but Ruest died later of what was determined to be a manual strangulation.

Park and Davis were arrested in the days following the incident, and the youth was also arrested and charged with robbery in connection with the case. He was sentenced to 15 months in custody in February of 2011.

The Crown filed victim impact statements from the victim's family for Justice Tim Keene to consider in imposing his sentence. Park and Davis also offered emotional apologies to those affected.

Justice Keene accepted a joint submission by the Crown and Defence for seven years imprisonment for both men, less a 1-to-1 credit for time served in remand.

"Obviously, Mr. Justice Keene agreed with the Crown and Defense in terms of the submissions they made to the court in terms of the appropriate range," said Crown Prosecutor Glen Herman. "But there's never any satisfaction in a resolution, quite frankly I think, in this kind of file, because nothing can obviously bring back Mr. Ruest."

Park and Davis were charged with second-degree murder after they were arrested, but Herman said the Crown felt that manslaughter was a more appropriate conviction.

"Obviously, there was no intent to kill here, and I think that was clear all the way from the evidence, and that's why we agreed to resolve it in that fashion, because we think that was the appropriate charge," he said.

Herman added that the case did take longer than usual to get from arrest to conviction, but says that was complicated by Davis frequently changing counsel, using three lawyers through the matter.

Davis, 24, had been in custody since being arrested and will receive a 26-month credit on his sentence, while Park, 21, only served two months before being released on bail. Both men must also submit forensic DNA samples and are not allowed to possess or use firearms for 10 years.

 Crown Prosecutor Glen Herman talks with reporters following the sentencing hearing: