A four-year sentence is a Campbell River man’s penalty after beating a homeless man to death in 2020.
According to a court decision, 32-year-old Justin Arnet plead guilty to manslaughter of 59-year-old Dean Dool of Campbell River after an incident on Oct. 15, 2020.
Justice Reginald Harris said Dool had been drinking in the foyer of a bank that night and encountered Arnet and a group of friends after leaving.
Arnet and one other in his group got angry at Dool because they felt he had made a racist comment, according to the ruling. The two briefly spoke, before the confrontation became physical and resulted in multiple blows to Dool’s head and body.
After Arnet left, medical personnel arrived but Dool died in the hospital due to head trauma a few days later.
Arnet was arrested on Jan. 28, 2021 where he was interviewed and shown CCTV footage of incident. He became emotional, expressing how sorry he was and that he felt overwhelming guilt, according to the decision.
The crown sought a seven-to-eight-year sentence for the manslaughter and an additional 18 months for a robbery on Jan. 23, 2021.
Arnet’s counsel, however, argued that a four-year sentence would do, minus the amount of time Arnet had already spent in custody.
The four-year sentence was decided by Justice Harris after consideration of Arnet and his background as an Indigenous person who suffered from intergenerational trauma and saw little guidance growing up.
“Despite the need for denunciation and deterrence, consideration must be given to Mr. Arnet’s rehabilitation. In this regard, I note, the passage of time since he has been convicted of a substantive offence. I also note the support he has from family and friends,” said Harris.
“Lastly, I observe his acts of kindness and support. All of this satisfies me that Mr. Arnet is a person who can be rehabilitated, and if rehabilitation is achieved, not only will he benefit but so will the community.”
Justice Harris added that because Arnet had already spent 760 days in custody, he is entitled to a credit of three years, one month and three weeks. This means he has a remaining 10 months and one week to serve.
In addition to the manslaughter sentence, Arnet will also serve six-months for the robbery and be bound by probation for two years.
He is also prohibited from possessing any firearm, crossbow, restricted weapon, ammunition or explosive substance for 10 years after leaving prison.
