Dugald Jamieson of Renfrew was sentenced Tuesday morning
to 12 years in prison for the killing of girlfriend Carol-Anne Brunet in her Hall Avenue,
Renfrew apartment in May 2010.
The Crown, under the direction of Assistant Crown
Attorney Peter Hageraats, had requested 12 to 15 years. The co-defence counsel
of Richard Morris and Victoria Legris had asked for seven.
“I just want to say that justice was served for my mom,”
said daughter Stephanie Brunet of Renfrew following the sentencing.
Jamieson, now 49, originally faced first-degree murder
charges, but that was later reduced to second-degree. He also faced a charge
for breach of probation.
After pleading guilty in January 2012 to manslaugher
charges in the death of Brunet, 54, Jamieson faced a two-day sentencing hearing
before Justice Timothy Ray in Pembroke Superior Court last week.
In his 11-page decision, Justice Ray outlined the
medical background, provided by pathologist Dr. Christopher Milroy in testimony
last week.
Justice Ray also noted he didn’t think Dr. Milroy was
qualified to say that a responsible adult would have known there was a wound
that required medical attention. In last week’s testimony Dr. Milroy said
Brunet died of peritonitis, from which people don’t normally die because they
seek medical attention. Brunet’s friends did not seek medical help until it was
too late.
Shortly after midnight on May 30, a friend called 9-1-1,
but paramedics who arrived at her apartment could find no vital signs. She was
declared dead the early morning of May 31 at Renfrew Victoria
Hospital.
Justice Ray pointed out aggravating factors that led to
his decision. These, he said, included the facts that Jamieson, after stabbing
Brunet with a kitchen knife, told her to clean up the blood, and over the next
24 hours failed to call an ambulance or seek medical help while her condition
deterioriated.
The justice indicated that Jamieson “was motivated more
by concern with the consequences of being found in breach of his probation
order than he was in getting medical help for Ms. Brunet.”
Nearly half-way through his decision, Justice Ray noted
that Jamieson had a lengthy record that included 23 convictions since 1982.
These were for either drinking and driving, mischief,
break-and-enter, trafficking, assault with a weapon, uttering threats and four
breaches of probation.
Two of those charges, noted Justice Ray, were for
assaulting domestic partners, once Brunet and once a previous partner. Those
two charges resulted in total jail time
of 234 days.,
In reaching his decision, Justice Ray said he gave no
weight to the uncomplimentary remarks made in the victim-impact statements. He
did note that the statements described Brunet as a loving and caring person.
Justice Ray said it was a mitigating factor in
Jamieson’s favour that he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, thereby bringing
“closure for the family at an earlier stage and avoid putting the family
through the pain and anguish of a trial.”
However, he said use of a weapon, spousal violence and
committing manslaughter while in breach of a probation order were aggravating
circumstances.
He reserved his strongest language for late in his
decision when he referred to spousal violence as “abhorrent.”
“Domestic violence,” he said, “will not be tolerated by
our society. The courts are expected to deal severely with offenders who
repeatedly breach court orders, and those who persist in perpetrating domestic
violence. Mr. Jamieson falls squarely into both categories.
“The unlawful taking of another life as Mr. Jamieson
did, is the most serious of crimes.”
A few minutes after hearing the sentence, Carol-Anne
Brunet’s sister, Debbie Davidson, said in a somber tone, “I would have liked to
see him (Jamieson) get more, but 12 (years) is great.”
Calling the whole experience of dealing with his
sister’s death “sickening,” she added, “I’m glad it’s over.”
Defence is undecided, this week, if it will appeal the
length of the sentence.
steve.newman@metroland.com