As the sentencing began for Tyler John Campbell on March 4, the family and friends of Jeffery Kraft of Ponoka gathered outside of the Red Deer provincial courthouse, calling for the maximum penalty.
The rally “Justice for Jeff — Justice for All” was to advocate for Kraft as well as other victims whose offenders were out on bail.
At the hearing, a Red Deer judge rejected a joint Crown prosecutor and defence submission for a seven-year sentence for manslaughter for Campbell.
The Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer told a Red Deer judge seven years for Campbell is appropriate because it was an “unintentional” shooting.
The submission had previously been rejected by Hon. Jim Hunter at the last court date in February. The case comes back to court March 11.
READ MORE: Rally to be held outside courthouse for slain Ponoka man
Kraft, 20, died on Dec. 15, 2019 from a gunshot wound.
Campbell pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a firearm in November.
Kraft and an acquaintance had met up with Amie Joanne Rogers and got into her vehicle, not knowing that Campbell was in the trunk with a shotgun.
Rogers pulled over on a rural road in northeast Lacombe, and after demanding money from Kraft, Campbell allegedly discharged the firearm, wounding Kraft in the chest.
Campbell and Rogers were both charged with second-degree murder, robbery with a firearm and conspiring to commit an offence, however, Rogers was discharged by the Crown Prosecutor in November, citing insufficient evidence.
More to come …
- With files from Paul Cowley, Red Deer Advocate