A Morinville man was given an 18-month conditional sentence in St. Albert court on Monday, for his participation in a robbery gone wrong in Gibbons more than two years ago.
Kyle James Elliott was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery by passing along text messages in connection with a botched robbery attempt that led to the death of 23-year-old Cameron Petherbridge.
Petherbridge died from a single stab wound to the abdomen after a group of males showed up at his Gibbons home intending to rob his roommate of marijuana and cash.
Although Elliott did not take part in the offence, he accepted and responded to text messages from Sam Wasylynchuk, the Gibbons man who pleaded guilty to setting up the robbery.
“I regret my involvement for what took place,” said Elliott, to several of Petherbridge’s family and friends present in the courtroom. “I apologize to the family for their loss.”
Elliott, 25, has been under house arrest since 2011.
On Monday he received a conditional sentence of 18 months followed by two years of probation.
Cameron’s father Wayne was disappointed with the sentence.
“It doesn’t really matter how much time they get, whether it’s a conditional sentence or 100 years, it doesn’t make a difference. There’s no justice for Cameron’s life.”
This is the third sentencing family and close friends have sat through. Last month Wasylynchuk, 24, was handed a two-year conditional sentence followed by three years of probation. Andrew Pliska, 28, of St. Albert pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years in prison in November 2012.
“There’s closure once we walk out of this courthouse with legal proceedings, but there’s never closure for the emotions of losing a son,” added Wayne.
The Petherbridge family holds an annual memorial barbecue and basketball tournament in honour of Cameron’s life. This year they raised just under $4,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Northern Alberta.
