Jamie Bacon sentenced to 18 years less time served for role in Surrey Six gang killings

Gangster Jamie Baconhas been sentenced to 18 years in prisonfor his role in the so-called Surrey Six killings, bringing more than a decade ofproceedings to an end but bringing no justice for the men killedover a callousturf war between two rivals, the victims' families say.

With credit for time already served in pre-trial custody, Bacon will spend another five years and seven months behind bars.

The family members of those killed in the2007 massacrequietly cried as the sentence was read aloud in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday. Bacon, now 35, stood still with his hands foldedin the prisoner'sbox, receiving his sentence for initiatingthehit that led to the biggest gangland killing in B.C. history.

"To conspire with others to kill people ... is among the most despicable crimes imaginable," said Justice Kathleen Ker.

Six people were gunned downwhen Bacon's associates came for their leader'sdrug-dealing rival, Corey Lal, at the Balmoralapartment tower:Lal, his brother, two of his gang associates and two bystanders who had no connections to the gang world at all.

Bacon reached a deal in July to plead guiltyto conspiracy to commit the murder of Lal. Afirst-degree murder charge was dropped in exchange.

One of the bystanders, ChristopherMohan, 22, happened to walkout of his apartment across the hall when thehitmenwere standing there. He was dragged into Lal's apartmentandexecutedwith the others.

Mohan'smother, EileenMohan, has been vocal in her belief that Bacon was receivinga sweetheart deal. She cried leaving court on Friday afternoon, vowing to fight for change in the criminal justice systemto honour her son, and so no other family will need to suffer as she has forthe last 13 years.

"Mr. Bacon gets to return home to his mother's arms. Today we celebrated his life ... his rights ... instead of celebrating Christopher," she said.

"I don't know what tomorrow [brings]... but today is really, really difficult to accept. I want to respect the process, but I think the process is not respecting us in return."

WATCH | Victim's mother on the sentence:

Mother of Surrey Six victim says Jamie Bacon's sentence is impossible to accept

4 years ago

Duration 3:24

Eileen Mohan whose son Christopher was murdered in 2007 said a sentence of 18 years less time served is far from enough for the gang leader who orchestrated the hit that led to the Surrey Six killings.

Joint submission

Ker accepted the sentenceproposed bythe Crown and defence as part of Bacon's plea deal. Kersaid it is rare for a judgebound by judicial code and case law, among other factors to overridea joint submission. She said Bacon's case did not meet the bar to do so.

"No doubt, some wish I would override the joint submission and give a life sentence,"Kersaid. "Judges are awarded discretion ... but it does not mean a judge is free to do whatever she wants.

"The joint submission as to sentence clearly represents an agreement negotiated ... by extremelycompetent,senior and experiencedcounsel who have considered the effect of the joint submissionfrom all perspectives."

Bacon walked briskly into the courtroom Friday, aware of the proposed sentence, dressed in a navy blue dress shirt and narrow, black-framed glasses. He greeted his lawyer with a smile "Hey, how are ya?" and sat face-forward.

The victims' families lined in the front row.

Ker began the hearing by reading the names of the six victims into the record, speaking slowly in the tense room.

"It is critically important to remember them and acknowledge they were so much more than the identity of 'victim' that has been bestowed upon them," Ker said, glancing up at the silent gallery.

"These six men were cherished family members, beloved sons, brothers,cousins a husband, son, father, uncle."

Ker said Bacon, then leader of the Red Scorpions, hatched a "diabolical" plot to have Lal killed because he "didn't want to look weak."Lal, who led a rival gang, had refused to hand a drug line over to Bacon and to pay a $100,000 "tax."

"In their world, Corey Lal had to die," Ker said.

The plot spiralled out of control when three killers arrived at Lal's apartment to find he wasn't alone.

Lal's brother, his associates and the secondbystander were inside.Gas fitter Edward Schellenberghappened to be on a service call. Those men, as well as Mohan, were forced to lie on the floor and shot.

'Egregious misconduct'

Eileen Mohan and Jourdana Lal, the Lals' sister, confronted Baconlast month insearing victim impact statements.

Ker said she took the "profoundly heartbreaking" statements into sentencing consideration, but had other factors to consider when deciding to accept the proposed sentence.

In particular, she cited "egregious misconduct" by a number of investigating RCMP officers.

One former investigator,Derek Brassington, pleaded guilty in early 2019 to breach of trust and attempted obstruction of justice for carrying out a romantic relationship with a potential key witness in the caseover several months in 2009.

Two other former officers who worked on the case have pleaded guilty to non-criminal misconduct.

Ker also took into consideration the fact Bacon's charter rights were violated as he was held in solitary confinement for 15 months after his arrest in 2009.

Six others havebeen convicted for their roles in the Surrey Six killings.

2nd assassination attempt

As part of his plea deal in July, Bacon also pleaded guilty tocounselling someone in 2008 to commit the murder of an associate who'd fallen out of his favour.

The assassination attempt on Dec. 31, 2008,was unsuccessful and the associate escaped.

Bacon's guilty pleasspared families, lawyers and the public from trials that were sure to be long and complex, with no guarantee of a conviction in the end.

Mohan said she has written to political leaders at every level, including the prime minister, imploring them to look at the case.

"I won't stop fighting for justice for Christopher," she said, through tears. "I'm going to make a change before I die."