Teen receives life sentence
A teenager charged in the killing of an elderly Dartmouth woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Jamie Gallant, 18, of Dartmouth was sentenced to life in prison in Nova Scotia Supreme Court Wednesday for his role in the murder of 79-year-old Lavinia Campbell.
Gallant will be eligible for parole in 2029.
“There’s some comfort in knowing that he can’t do this to anyone else’s grandmother,” said the victim’s granddaughter, Caroline Derksen.
Campbell was beaten to death in her Jackson Road home in December 2011 – an incident the judge called “repulsive” and “repugnant.”
“Never forget until the day you die what you did to Miss Campbell,” said Justice Simon MacDonald.
Police were called to Campbell’s home after a neighbour noticed the back door had been kicked in and left open. When they arrived on the scene, officers found Campbell’s body inside.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Gallant and a 15-year-old boy went to Campbell’s home to steal cigarettes, money and car keys.
Gallant thought the woman had woken up during the robbery and went to her room, where he found her lying in bed facing the wall. He hit her with a flashlight and she started to moan.
According to the statement, Gallant punched her and kicked her in the head and chest before covering her head with a blanket. The pair then took off with her purse and cigarettes.
“People have a right to feel safe in their homes, to go to bed peaceful in the evening,” says Crown prosecutor Terri Lipton. “This is tragic.”
According to the statement of facts, Gallant also laughed as he watched news coverage of the case, saying ‘I did it.’
Today, however, the teen used a different tone in court.
“I’m really sorry for the things I have done,” he said.
Gallant was originally charged with first-degree murder in Campbell’s death, but he reached a plea agreement with the Crown on the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
“The circumstances were such that we felt it was appropriate to agree as we did,” said defence lawyer Brian Bailey.
Gallant’s accomplice, now 16, also reached a plea deal with the Crown on the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Murder victim remembered as caring
Caroline Derksen flew in from British Columbia so she could attend the court proceedings, saying she wanted to give her grandmother a voice.
“As much as I can appreciate him expressing his remorse, I did,” said Derksen in response to Gallant’s comment.
However, she told the court she feels cheated and angry that her grandmother was taken in such a violent manner.
“She had a kind heart. She loved animals,” said Derksen as she held a picture of her grandmother. “She kept a lot of cats in her house.”
Campbell was known to many of her neighbours as a caring woman who loved cats and would help anyone out.
“Every time I go by her house I still look. I expect to see her hanging out the door calling cats or something,” says neighbour Heather Morrison. “I still want to call her and it takes me a few minutes to realize she’s not there.”
Campbellhas been laid to rest on Vancouver Island, where she grew up and raised her children.
Derksen says her grandmother often talked about returning to British Columbia, although this isn’t the way her family imagined it would happen.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster
