Dustin Paul Sentenced

Dustin Paul is going to jail for at least 16 years.

Paul was sentenced by Justice Duncan Shaw at the Penticton Courthouse Wednesday morning for his three second degree murder convictions and two attempted murder convictions.

He was found guilty in September 2006 for the 2004 killings of Quincey Paul, Damien Endeney and Robin Baptiste. He was also found guilty of attempting to kill his younger brother Billie Louie and Tommy Gabriel on Penticton Band land.

Paul has been given a life in prison term for all of the three murder charges and seven years for each of the attempted murder convictions. All sentences will served concurrently and he will be eligible for parole after 16 years.

Shaw says he considered both sides before coming to his decision.

“During the course of this sentencing hearing I have read and been read many victim impact statement, all of which were heart wrenching. I have also read letters in support of Mr. Paul, saying this horrific act was out of character for him. I have no doubt the remorse he has expressed is sincere,” says Shaw.

He says some of the mitigating factors he considered were Paul’s age, the fact he had no previous criminal record and his family history.

“Mr. Paul was raised by a father who was drug dealer. His father was killed when Mr. Paul was 19, forcing him to step into his shoes as a dealer to provide for his family,” says Shaw.

The common-law wife of Quincey Paul, Alley Butler, says she is starting to come to terms with the sudden loss of her husband, but is worried about how their two children will deal with it when they get older.

“It’s like a big cycle, where I’m okay with it for a few months, then something like an anniversary will happen and it brings it all back again. When he is eligible for parole, my children won’t even be adults and they’ll have to deal with it,” says Butler.

Paul’s sister, Anona Kampe, says she still thinks her brother is a good person.

“I truly believe Dustin will be rehabilitated, he’s very strong and caring. I want him to come out of this okay,” says Kampe.

She says drug use has completely ruined her family, taking both her father and brother from her.

“I remember the day I found out our dad was a drug dealer, I cried for days. Nothing good can come out of drugs. We are taught in school that the drug dealers are the bad people in the world, but I never thought we were the bad people. If one positive thing comes out of this tragedy it’s that I hope people in our community will stay away from drugs and stay in school,” says Kampe.

Paul has also been given a lifetime ban on possessing firearms and must submit a DNA sample for a National forensic DNA database.

He has been given credit for time served since his arrest, so he will be able to apply for parole in 2020.

Paul's lawyer has 30 days to appeal.