4 years for violent B&E

Photo: Nicholas Johansen

Alexander Laramee was given four years in jail for a violent break-in he was a part of in 2015.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.

Alexander Laramee's grandma and great aunt waved goodbye and blew him kisses as he was handcuffed by a sheriff and taken away following his sentencing Tuesday afternoon. 

Justice Heather McNaughton sentenced Laramee to four years in jail, minus seven and a half months credit for pre-sentence custody, for his part in a 2015 home invasion and assault at the Verve apartment building. 

Laramee was 22-years-old at the time of the offence and had no prior criminal record.

The Crown and defence had vastly different opinions on a fit sentence, with the Crown arguing for somewhere in the range of seven to nine years and defence arguing for a sentence of time served plus probation. 

"The sentence that I impose must recognize that the offences committed by Mr. Laramee were serious and require a jail sentence to emphasize to Mr. Laramee and others in the community the gravity of entering an occupied dwelling to commit a criminal offence," Justice McNaughton said. "In all of Mr. Laramee's circumstances such a sentence should be below the range suggested by the Crown."

Justice McNaughton pointed to Laramee's lack of criminal record, demonstrated remorse, family support and his good behaviour while out of custody on bail. 

Additionally, Justice McNaughton acknowledged Laramee was not involved in the planning of the break-in, and only learned about it moments before it occurred. 

"I have concluded that there is a strong possibility that you can rehabilitate yourself by serving this sentence and going on to lead a productive and law-abiding life with the ongoing support of your family," Justice McNaughton told Laramee following sentencing. 

ORIGINAL: 1 p.m.

While Crown is seeking a seven- to nine-year sentence for a man who broke into a Glenmore apartment and assaulted a woman while trying to steal a large amount of cash, his defence says the five months the first-time offender has already spent in jail is enough.

In July, Alexander Laramee was found guilty of six charges for his part in a violent robbery at the Verve apartments in 2015, that left a woman bloodied and bruised and a man suffering from a hammer blow to the head.

Laramee, who was 22 at the time, left Winnipeg two months earlier on a road trip with three others his lawyer, Michael Stephenson, described as a “negative peer group.”

On the night of Nov. 21, 2015, Laramee and another man donned black face masks and gloves and broke into the apartment. Laramee's partner pulled out a hammer, which Laramee said he had no prior knowledge of, smashed a large fish tank and engaged in a fight with the resident.

Laramee repeatedly punched one of the two women in the apartment, who was screaming for help, and put his hand over her mouth.

The owner of the apartment, trained in jiu-jitsu, wrestled with Laramee's partner, and forced him to flee. Once it was clear the robbery was a failure, Laramee stopped trying to restrain the women. When police arrived, they found him sitting on an ottoman, waiting for their arrival.

The woman Laramee hit suffered extensive bruising and received a black eye, while the owner of the apartment required stitches from the hammer attack. 

In July, Laramee was convicted of breaking and entering, attempted robbery, assault, assault with a weapon, masking one's face during an offence and unlawful confinement.

During Laramee's sentencing hearing Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Angela Ross argued that Laramee should be given a sentence of seven to nine years, based on similar cases. 

“The motivation was greed, Mr. Laramee was not trying to fund any drug addiction,” Ross said. “Mr. Laramee beat (the woman) in her face extensively, causing bruising and swelling.”

Stephenson, Laramee's lawyer, told Justice Heather McNaughton that Laramee felt pressure from the others on the road trip to participate in the robbery, and that he was scared to say no.

He highlighted Laramee's lack of a criminal record, good behaviour in the 15 months he's been out of custody on bail, his remorse and his family's support.

“He doesn't exhibit that criminal lifestyle that needs to be deterred with a significant sentence,” Stephenson said. “A lengthy federal sentence like my friend suggests would destroy his life, that he has at this point."

Stephenson argued the five months he's already spent behind bars, credited at 218 days, plus a lengthy period of probation would be appropriate. 

Justice McNaughton is expected to deliver a sentence Tuesday afternoon.