Appeal court reduces sentence for man who killed La Ronge restaurant owner

A man who pleaded guilty to beating a La Ronge business owner to death has had his sentence reduced by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

The man, who was 17 at the time and can not be named because he was charged as a youth, plead guilty to the murder of Simon Grant, a La Ronge restaurateur in 2017.

Grant was killed in April of that year during an armed robbery at his restaurant, Louisiana’s Bar-B-Que. After their investigation, local RCMP arrested and charged three suspects, including the then 17-year-old.

He was originally charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The Crown sought to have him sentenced as an adult.

The Judge allowed the Crowns’ application and the man was was sentenced to nine years behind bars.

The man argues that the judge erred in finding that he should be sentenced as an adult, and also erred by imposing a nine year sentence.

The appeal judge stated the sentencing judge didn’t consider factors relevant to the sentencing, such as the entering of a guilty plea, the man’s repeated and heartfelt
expressions of remorse and his lack of a criminal record.

The appeal judge ruled that his sentence should be reduced to just seven years instead of nine. All other aspects of the sentence will remain in place. He has been in jail for 38 months, which will be given as credit towards the new sentence.