Sean Patrick Patterson will remain incarcerated until at least June 5, 2034, thirteen years after he was arrested for the murder of Jamie Leard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
30-year-old Patterson was sentenced on Thursday afternoon in Moncton\u2019s court of King\u2019s Bench by Judge Tracey K. DeWare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April, Patterson pled guilty to the second degree murder of Jamie Leard over two years ago in Upper Cape, between Port Elgin and Cape Tormentine. Patterson admitted to shooting Leard in the head after he returned home on May 25, 2021, but says he intended only to scare his friend and roommate. Another friend, Henry Pottie, has also pled guilty in the death of Leard, admitting to assisting or encouraging Patterson in the dangerous confrontation. But there remain discrepancies in the agreed facts of the case. Prosecutor Maurice Blanchard told CHMA he will wait until after a sentencing hearing for Pottie on September 15 before commenting on the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judge DeWare called the crime \u201chorrific and senseless\u201d and noted that while there was no clear motive, Patterson\u2019s use of methamphetamine during the same time period \u201dmust have played a significant role in what occurred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DeWare explained that a conviction of second degree murder gets an automatic life sentence, but the number of years a person serves before being eligible for parole is decided by the court. DeWare also said that whether Patterson is released after June 2034 is a matter for the parole board, and that if released, he will be \u201csubject to strict conditions likely for the remainder of his life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The judge noted that Patterson\u2019s murder of Leard was not provoked, nor did it happen in the heat of the moment, calling his actions, \u201cincomprehensible.\u201d She also noted that by lying to the police and destroying evidence, he \u201cprolonged the agony of Mr. Leard\u2019s disappearance for his family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the judge also noted Patterson has been \u201can exemplary inmate since his arrest, and taken the opportunity to further his education and deal with his addiction issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patterson\u2019s sentence is life imprisonment, with a period of 13 years of ineligibility for parole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n