A man convicted of fatally shooting someone near an Edmonton homeless shelter in 2023 was sentenced Friday to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 13 years.
Harrison Belanger, 26, was found guilty of second-degree murder last May for the death of 32-year-old Shane Bakewell — a conviction that carries an automatic life sentence.
“Mr. Belanger was apparently, in the moment, a conquering hero, a tough guy, a king of the block who had prevailed in the altercation with Mr. Bakewell,” Court of King’s Bench Justice Michael Lema said in his closing remarks Friday.
“So what was the prize of Mr. Belanger acquiring big-man status and swagger for a few minutes? The prize was a man’s life.”
Bakewell was shot near the former Boyle Street Community Services location in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2023.
Wounded, he made his way several blocks to the Herb Jamieson Centre, where he remained outside the building for more than 24 hours before shelter staff checked on him and called an ambulance.
“Shane did not deserve what happened to him,” Bakewell’s father, Gerald, said after Friday’s sentencing.
“I feel he was vindicated by some of the things that happened in this case that were before the courts,” Gerald said. “He did not instigate the fight. He was not profusely intoxicated. He defended himself, which I’m proud of… I just wish things were different.”
The defence sought parole eligibility after 10 to 12 years served. The Crown argued for 18 years, but Lema said the case law prosecutors presented in support wasn’t materially similar to Belanger’s case.
The judge cited several aggravating factors in imposing the sentence, including Belanger’s criminal record, which he said showed an escalating pattern of violent behaviour.
He listed that Belanger used a gun while under a firearms prohibition order, the offence occurred on a public street with bystanders present, and Belanger’s preparation before the shooting — and his conduct afterward — showed a lack of concern.
Mitigating factors Lema identified include Belanger’s relatively young age, which he said reduced moral culpability due to immaturity. Although he noted that carried less weight because Belanger continued to re-offend and breach conditions.
Additionally, Lema pointed to admissions Belanger made during the trial, findings in a Gladue report that described him as remorseful, the somewhat impulsive nature of the offence, and the lack of evidence of previous violence between Belanger and Bakewell.
Lema also acknowledged victim impact statements read during the sentencing hearing in January, which was adjourned until Friday.
He said the statements served as an important reminder of the harm and loss Bakewell’s family and friends suffered. Lema said they had hoped Bakewell, who experienced homelessness during much of his adulthood, might one day turn his life around, but Belanger took that hope away.
The judge finished his closing comments by saying he hopes Belanger can improve himself and take steps toward a more productive life.
In addition to his prison sentence, Belanger was ordered to provide a DNA sample and is subject to a lifetime firearms prohibition.
Belanger declined the opportunity to address the court Friday, shaking his head when asked if he wished to speak.
Father feels people ‘turned their back’ on son
Outside of court Friday, Gerald said he did not know all the details of the case until CCTV footage was shown during trial.
That footage appeared to show Belanger trying to take something from Bakewell, prompting a fight that ended when Belanger fired a gun that was concealed in a backpack. Bakewell clutched his stomach and staggered away.
Additional footage showed Bakewell spending hours outside the Herb Jamieson Centre — lying in a snowbank, sitting in a wheelchair, standing near the entrance and, eventually, lying motionless with his arms spread.
Gerald previously told CBC News that video played in court showed people, who appeared to be shelter staff or volunteers, finding Bakewell partially collapsed, then placing him back on a bench and walking away.
On Friday, he said he wants people to remember that his son was still a human being.
“It’s like humanity and society kind of turned their back,” he said.
Hope Mission senior director Tim Pasma previously said in a statement that, since 2023, the organization has introduced 24/7 rapid response teams, staffed by paramedics, to respond to medical emergencies around downtown shelters. It has also implemented enhanced emergency response training for staff.
But Gerald criticized the shelter’s response Friday, questioning whether Pasma saw the same footage that was shown in court.
“I don’t think Tim Pasma saw the video of the shame, the indignity, no respect for a human at the end of his life,” he said.