The father of a man killed 10 years ago in a horrific gas-and-dash robbery feels victimized again at the hands of the justice system.
Doug de Patie, who lives in the South Shuswap, is outraged at the latest sentence given to his son's killer, which amounted to less than two weeks in jail for theft and obstruction of justice.
De Patie's son Grant was 24 years old and working alone as a gas station attendant in Maple Ridge when he attempted to get the license plate of a car involved in a gas-and-dash theft. After attempting to jump out of the way, Grant was struck by the car, his clothing caught on a tire and he was dragged to his death.
The killer, Darnell Pratt, was 16 when he committed that crime. He was charged with second degree murder, however, Pratt pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was issued a seven-year sentence.
Since then Pratt has had repeated parole violations and run-ins with the law, the latest being caught with items from a stolen vehicle which was found abandoned, not far from where police apprehended Pratt.
Pratt pled guilty to the theft under $5,000 and obstruction charges, which resulted when Pratt gave authorities a false name. He was issued one day in jail in addition to time served before he posted bail.
De Patie believes Pratt was involved with the theft of vehicle, but this charge was dropped due to lack of evidence.
"I'm so mad, I smashed my computer. To me this sentence is just short of him walking away scot-free," he said. "This was not a meaningful sentence, not for someone with his history."
De Patie would have preferred the judge would have been allowed to make a determination, rather than the charge being dropped by the Crown due to a lack of evidence.
"That's what judges are for, to look at the evidence and decide. In this case, the charge was dropped before the judge even heard anything."
In response to the sentence, de Patie got in touch with Justice Minister Suzanne Anton, as well as the BC NDP's Mike Farnworth to protest.
"Who I'd like to say kudos to is the RCMP. They apprehended him, they brought him in front of a judge. It's the justice system that keeps letting us down. This guy is a hazard, every person he passes is a potential victim and yet they just shuffled him right back out on the street."