Crime and Justice

"He targeted them not because of any animosity to them specifically, not for lust or greed or any of the normal things you might see in a murder sentencing. He targeted them specifically because of who they were, what they did, the badge they carried, the flash on their shoulders, the uniform they wore."
"The question you will have to answer at the end of this is, 'What is the value of a human life?"
Crown lawyer Cameron Gunn, Moncton, New Brunswick

"It was too strict [his Catholic upbringing and home-schooling] with all the Christianity. Other than that I had a pretty OK relationship with everyone in my family."
"You really don't get freedom of speech in this country. There's a big class war, big time."
"I know this is going to sound pretty messed up, but I felt pretty accomplished [after the murders]."
Justin Bourque, RCMP killer

Justin Bourque, 24, of Moncton, could be facing three consecutive life sentences, with no chance of parole for 75 years. (Facebook)

Even for a young man of 24, a prison sentence of 75 years constitutes an unusual punishment, particularly in Canada, where a life-sentence is 25 years without hope of parole until the full time is served. First-degree murder is not all that common in Canada in any event, since evidence must prove conclusively that the murder was planned and executed to plan. Except for the killing of security service personnel, police whom society tasks with protecting the public.

Justin Bourque intended, in his words, to 'start a rebellion', his target an oppressive, corrupt government taking away the freedom of Canadian citizens, in service to the wealthy. In service of his initiation of that rebellion, he decided to use a 308-calibre semi-automatic rifle, and attack members of the RCMP. Which was just what he did, approaching a group of Mounties.

He shot dead constables Dave Ross, 32, Fabrice Gevaudan, 45, and Douglas Larche, 40. With them were Constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen, wounded by the fire. A single conviction of first-degree murder holds a mandatory life sentence and a ban on applying for parole for 25 years. But Mr. Bourque murdered three people in uniform with malice aforethought.

And Crown lawyer Cameron Gunn has argued before the Court of Queen's Bench in Moncton, that Justin Bourque's crime merits three consecutive life sentences. That well and truly is a life sentence.

His attack was entirely premeditated, and lethal. In an interview at the RCMP detachment in Sackville, New Brunswick he admitted after his June 6, 2014 arrest that his plan was to kill as many police officers as he could manage. He seemed fairly proud of his shooting prowess. During the interview, shown in court on video, he is relaxed and indifferent.

He spoke about exterior threats from the Russians and the Chinese, about social engineering, bullying, tyrants, social decline, climate change and the "black curtain". The black curtain might have been his psyche shielding his mind from the temptation to be logical. His dissatisfaction with employment, unwillingness to return to school to complete his education also mentioned.

His lawyer, David Lutz, stated to the court that his client meant to plead guilty to the charges of first-degree murder. Where initially there was pride in accomplishment, a weight of anger lifted off the shoulders of the young man with the supportive, loving family, what now remains is the realization that his actions represented among the worst of its kind to occur in Canada. And for that a penalty must be paid.

For deliberately choosing to take the lives of three uniformed men he didn't know, and planning to kill even greater numbers, his own life is now forfeit. And if he felt no regret post-murders, he most certainly feels profound regret now that his immediate euphoria has long since dissipated into the reality of the situation.

Justin Bourque, his lawyer gravely said, now realizes his original thought process on June 4 was "extremely defective". Venturing the opinion that his client's home schooling was responsible in some way for his social deficits. He was influenced by rantings he'd read online about hatred for authorities. And the rest is history, of a sort.