Baseball-bat attacker on parole for murder

The manager of a Victoria rooming house was on parole for first-degree murder when he beat a tenant with a baseball bat at the Langford Street building last year.

On Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Mary Humphries said she was mindful of George Storry’s record for violence as she sentenced him to 4 1⁄2 years in prison for the aggravated assault of Chris Gibson on May 22, 2015.

“I am also mindful of the many improvements he has made to his life over the past years,” Humphries said. “I do not accept Mr. Storry should be punished beyond the normal range of sentence because of violent offences he committed almost 30 years ago. It is a concern, however, as the Crown notes, these events occurred when Mr. Storry was apparently doing well and had a community plan and a support system.”

Storry, 62, and his co-accused Russell Meredith, 54, were originally charged with the attempted murder of Gibson. In July, Meredith pleaded guilty in Victoria provincial court to aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail followed by two years of probation.

A week later, after an 18-day, judge-alone trial, Humphries found Storry guilty of the aggravated assault of Gibson, but not guilty of attempted murder. Humphries found no evidence that Storry had a motive to kill Gibson and that none of the Gibson’s injuries were life-threatening.

In addition to managing the building, Storry ran a handyman business. Meredith, who was described as low-functioning due to fetal alcohol syndrome, worked for him.

On the night of May 22, 2015, after a dispute over rent, Storry and Meredith went to Gibson’s room armed with baseball bats. Storry knocked on the door. When Gibson opened it, Meredith flew in and began beating Gibson with a baseball bat. Storry also delivered blows with a smaller bat. Gibson was bleeding profusely.

“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that each struck blows and while Mr. Meredith struck more blows with a heavier bat, Mr. Storry joined in the attack and struck blows himself which caused injury,” Humphries wrote in her judgment.

The judge noted that at the time of the offence, Storry had been on parole for 11 months after being sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder in 1988. In 1975, Storry was sentenced to three years for armed robbery.

In 1977, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping. In 1987, he was sentenced to 10 years for robbery.

“It is very important that Mr. Storry was on parole at this time, yet he deliberately put himself into a position where violence might occur,” Humphries said.

Crown prosecutor Lorne Phipps asked the court to impose a sentence of eight to 10 years, arguing that violence while on parole justifies a higher sentence and that the protection of the public cannot be left to the parole board.

Defence lawyer Tim Russell noted that Storry’s criminal record was very old and he has worked hard to improve his life.

With time served, Storry must serve a further 27 months and 24 days in prison.