Edmonton man sentenced to more than 12 years for manslaughter in death of 6-month-old son
An Edmonton man has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years for manslaughter in the 2017 death of his six-month-old son.
Christopher Lamarche, 27, had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jarock Humeniuk but was found guilty earlier this month of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman delivered the sentence Thursday morning in an Edmonton courtroom, characterizing Jarock’s death as “the brutal killing of an infant.”
"It is absolutely necessary to underline, with emphasis, society's revulsion for such a heinous act,” he ruled. "There's not a greater position of trust than a father caring for their child. You breached that position of trust in an unbelievable fashion.”
Sanderman cited how the assault involved sustained shaking and twisting of a vulnerable child who was in Lamarche’s care.
“This was a child who was totally dependent on his caregivers,” he said. “You sought no help after you inflicted these injuries.”
“You went to sleep. This is callous behaviour showing complete indifference to the plight of your son. He has been fatally injured by you and you do nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
On May 28, 2017, the infant was found at a home on 142 Avenue and 77 Street by emergency workers with fatal head, back and rib injuries.
His death was first considered suspicious and later classified as a homicide.
Lamarche was charged in 2019 following a police operation where he confessed killing his son to an undercover officer.
Crown prosecutor Bonnie Parker argued for a 16-year sentence, stating Lamarche’s moral culpability was “at the highest end of the range.”
“He abused an exceptionally young child,” she said. “He bent his six-month-old son in ways that a baby should never be bent.”
Defence lawyer Evan McIntyre argued for a sentence of between eight and 10 years, saying Lamarche was sorry for what he had done.
“Mr. Lamarche made a horrific, life-altering mistake that night,” he said. “He has to live with what he has done here.”
Lamarche declined the opportunity to address the court on Thursday.
Court also heard several victim impact statements written by relatives of Lamarche and Jarock and read out by Parker.
“Everything he could have been was taken away and I will never have the chance to experience any of those things with him,” Jarock’s mother wrote in a statement.
“My life has felt incomplete since May 28, 2017 and I have yet to find a way to cope.”
Lamarche received enhanced credit for 930 days already spent in custody and has 8 1/2 years remaining to be served.
He is also banned from possessing firearms for 10 years upon release and must provide a DNA sample.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.