By EverythingGP staff

Court

Life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years handed out in murder case

May 26, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The man who admitted his role in the shooting death of another man almost three years ago has been sentenced.

Simon De Lima was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years Thursday in Grande Prairie Court of King’s Bench.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in December of 2022 after admitting he shot and killed Kyler Commandeur in June of 2020 along a road near Woking. The court heard he had fired six shots at Commandeur.

In passing sentence, Justice Jane Fagnan thanked the members of Kyler’s family who submitted victim impact statements. She said this helped the court understand the impact of Kyler’s death on his family. Justice Fagnan called him someone with a future and a young man with hopes and dreams.

His family talked about how he dreamed of taking over the family business someday and how he was kind to others and loved everyone. They also talked about how their lives were altered forever and he did not deserve to die the way he did.

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De Lima also read a letter to the court and the judge said she accepts that his expressions of remorse were sincere, adding the coming years will not be easy for him.

Under Canadian law, parole eligibility starts from the date of arrest, which was November 13, 2020.

De Lima’s request to serve his sentence in Quebec was granted as he does not speak English and Quebec is where his family is located. De Lima’s sister also wrote a letter that was read out in court. She said it was hard to believe her brother could commit such an act and that she was heartbroken for the family that lost a loved one.

The court proceedings were conducted in French, with an interpreter translating everything into English so the family and other observers could follow what was happening.

Two other people are already serving jail sentences for their roles in Commandeur’s death. Justin Bishop, who drove De Lima and Commandeur to the spot where the murder occurred, is serving a five-and-a-half-year manslaughter sentence. Melissa Healey is serving a two-year sentence for unlawful confinement.

A murder trial for another man accused of murder in this case, Cody Letourneau, is scheduled to resume on June 12.