Grieving father receives 10-year sentence for running over son’s alleged killer

A grieving father who ran over his son’s alleged killer had been provoked just moments before, but did not plan to kill anyone.

Those details were shared during Reg Durocher’s sentencing hearing on Monday morning at the Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert.

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For the death of Ryan Clark at Northside on April 4, 2023, the 68-year-old Durocher received a 10-year sentence for manslaughter. With remand credit, he has about four-and-a-half years left to serve.

At the time of the offence, Clark – after successfully appealing his first murder conviction and being scheduled to face a new trial – was on conditions to stay away from the Durocher family.

Nervous about where Clark may be residing, Durocher contacted the RCMP on at least two occasions. On the day of the offence, Clark attended the store where Durocher’s granddaughter worked and “smirked” at her.

Upset and crying, the granddaughter called Durocher, and he immediately came to the store to confront Clark. He planned to later call police and tell them Clark was not following conditions of his release.

When Durocher arrived, Clark was standing outside. Durocher, who was behind the wheel of a truck, pulled up beside him. After rolling down his passenger-side window, Durocher proceeded to tell Clark to stay away from his family.

Unbeknownst to Durocher, Clark had learned earlier that day that his charges were to be stayed, and he answered back, “I got away with it once… What makes you think I can’t do it again? Watch your back.”

Durocher then backed up and drove forward, striking Clark. The incident, which was recorded by surveillance cameras, lasted between three and five seconds.

The autopsy determined the cause of Clark’s death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Clark also had fractured ribs and lacerations on his abdomen and pelvis.

The case had been scheduled for trial, and Durocher, while originally charged with second-degree murder, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

There were no members of the Clark family present for the sentencing hearing, and there no victim impact statements were provided.

Defence lawyer Garth Bendig said that after Durocher’s son Chris was killed in 2016, his wife suffered a stroke and he was her primary caregiver until she died in 2020.

While on remand at a men’s jail, Durocher has worked as a building services co-ordinator and as an on-call member of a hazardous waste response team. In a letter from his supervisor, Durocher was described as a gentleman and an exemplary inmate.

“This would be a very easy facility to manage if everyone was like Mr. Durocher,” the supervisor stated.

Bendig also noted that at the end of their shifts, all the corrections officers working at the jail take the time to shake his hand.

“I have yet to see that in my 33 years,” Bendig said.

When offered the opportunity to speak, Durocher apologized for his actions.

Justice Danyluk acknowledged the fact Durocher had led a good life with no criminal record, saying his actions on April. 4, 2023 were impulsive and emotionally driven.

“I am entirely prepared to accept what occurred was far out of the ordinary for him, almost unbelievable,” he said.

“I’m sure there are times you wonder if it really happened.”