Sentencing choice offers store clerks’ killer ‘hope’

Judge rejects option that could have kept Laylin Delorme in prison for 50 years

A 50-year parole ineligibility period on top of a life sentence for the man found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of two Mac’s employees in 2015 would have been unduly harsh and extinguished any hope for his rehabilitation, a Court of Queen’s Bench Justice said Tuesday.

Laylin Delorme, 27, had faced the potential of being ineligible for parole for a half-century if the court had followed the recommendations of Crown prosecutor John Watson, who argued the murder charges be served consecutively.

Instead they will be served concurrently alongside two eightyear terms for each armed robbery charge that left Mac’s store clerks Ricky Massain Cenabre and Karanpal Singh Bhangu dead.

Both men were shot and killed in separate attacks early on Dec. 18, 2015, in south Edmonton.

The ability for judges to sentence offenders convicted of multiple murders to consecutive or concurrent parole ineligibility period dates back to Criminal Code amendments made in 2011 to end what was seen as sentence discounts.

Justice Robert Graesser said that while the legislation existed, “rehabilitation is undoubtedly at the low end of importance” for a 25-year sentence “and non-existent” at 50 years.

Graesser said a 50-year sentence would have removed any motivation for Delorme to want to reintegrate into society.

He said if Delorme truly wanted to return to society and to again see his two children and family, a 25-year sentence would allow him that chance, even if he will be 50 at the time of his release.

There is still no guarantee Delorme will be released in 25 years, Graesser said, because that would be up to the parole board to decide.

“Release is not assured, but nevertheless there is some hope,” he said.

“I have greater faith in the role of the parole board than did Parliament in 2011. It appears then that they did not trust parole boards to keep dangerous people in jail.

“They are, in my view, in a far better position to view rehabilitation and public safety than am I, relying on a crystal ball.”

Outside of the courtroom, words were exchanged between two groups that had been in the courtroom, which led to the son of murder victim Ricky Cenabre being held back by family members after lunging at one of the parties and Cenabre’s common-law partner sobbing on the main floor.

Another family member, Faith Alcazaren, said no matter how much time Delorme spends in jail it will never change the fact that Ricky Massain Cenabre was murdered in cold blood.

“It ripped our heart out,” she said. “I just hope that when he reaches 50 he will be given a chance to go out and live and be with his son. I hope he will change.”

A 16-year-old boy — who was 13 at the time of the shootings — was handed a three-year sentence on two manslaughter charges in the deaths of Cenabre and Bhangu in late November.

Because of time served, the youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, will be released Friday.

The other adult suspect, Colten Steinhauer, has yet to go to trial.