NEWS FILE PHOTO
Leonard Beaulieu is seen in this undated photo. Beaulieu pled guilty to manslaughter on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 in relation to the fatal New Year’s Eve 2016 shooting of 24-year-old Jordan Pede and on Wednesday, Dec. 11 was sentenced to eight years in prison.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
Leonard Beaulieu has pled guilty to manslaughter in relation to the fatal New Year’s Eve 2016 shooting of 24-year-old Jordan Pede.
Beaulieu, 27, was scheduled to begin trial for second-degree murder at the Court of Queen’s Bench Monday, but instead entered a plea for manslaughter.
The Crown said it was unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt whether Beaulieu or co-accused Luke Boxell had shot Pede in a botched effort to rob him.
According to the agreed statements of facts, Beaulieu and Boxell arranged to meet Pede outside a convenience store in the North Flats around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2016, for the ostensible purpose of purchasing cocaine.
One of them carried a revolver while the other brandished bear mace, but it’s undetermined who carried which weapon.
However, Beaulieu and Boxell admit they both knew the firearm was loaded.
Shortly after, the victim pulled up in the passenger seat of a Jeep driven by his friend.
When it came time to pay, either Beaulieu or Boxell patted their pocket and said they forgot their wallet, pulling out the gun instead and shooting Pede in the head.
Beaulieu and Boxell then fled the scene of the crime.
Pede’s friend drove the Jeep to Strathcona Park, crashing into a wooden post before leaving the victim in a snowy ditch, where police and paramedics found him.
Pede was flown to Calgary’s Foothills Hospital, where doctors unsuccessfully attempted to remove a .22-calibre bullet from his brain.
He succumbed to the wound on Jan. 11, 2017.
On Jan. 3, some of Beaulieu’s friends drove him to Manitoba, where police found him on Feb. 13.
Beaulieu has been in custody since his arrest.
Boxell pled guilty to manslaughter in relation to Pede’s killing, for which he was sentenced to 10 years incarceration in April 2018.
The minimum sentence for manslaughter with a firearm is four years imprisonment with a maximum of life, according to the Criminal Code.
Beaulieu’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, where a joint submission is expected from the Crown and defence.
