Family outraged by possibility of 'cushy' sentence
Posted By TRACY MCLAUGHLIN
Posted 2 months ago
The family of a 14-year-old teen who was stabbed to death became outraged yesterday when they heard his killer could serve his sentence in a "cushy" youth facility.
Nickolas Bullock was 16 when he stabbed his younger cousin, Brayton Bullock, 13, times in the back and head in Lackies Bush March 9, 2006.
Last month, Justice Alfred Stong said he was deeply troubled that there was no real motive for the killing, other than the fact that Nickolas bore a grudge against his cousin and his family. Following a lengthy hearing over several months, he sentenced Nickolas, now 20, as an adult, to life in prison for first-degree murder. However, unlike the adult sentence of no chance of parole for 25 years, a youth can apply for parole in 10 years.
Despite the lengthy sentencing hearing, the matter is back in court for a judge to decide if it would make better sense to keep Nickolas in the youth facility, where he has graduated with a high school diploma and now wants to apply to university.
"I don't understand," said the murdered boy's mother, Tammy, who walked out of court because she was so upset.
"What does the adult sentence mean? Why did we go through all of that in the first place?"
Several other family members also walked out of court.
On the witness stand, a child and youth advocate testified that an adult prison would be too harsh an environment for a 20- year-old.
"It would be my hope that Nick could stay in Sprucedale," said Nancy Russell. "I think some of the landscape of an adult prison would be rather challenging for him."
Russell testified younger criminals can be targeted for sex in an adult prison, causing the judge to voice his concern.
"I'm not interested in placing this young boy in an adult prison where he will be prey," Stong said.
Crown attorney Ann Tierney objected to the remarks, noting anyone can fall prey to being used for sex in the community as well as in prison.
"Isn't it part of the consequences of being convicted for a crime?" she added.
Russell also testified that Nick would not have a chance to mature properly if he were sent to an adult prison, where hardened criminals will be much older than him.
Tierney scoffed at her evidence, noting previous experts testified Nickolas is a loner, doesn't have friends, and shows no signs of empathy.
"He doesn't have any friends and he doesn't need any friends," said Tierney. She also argued that whether or not he can easily access university courses is not grounds for allowing him to stay in a youth detention center.
"Didn't Karla Homolka get a university education?" she said.
Outside of court, several family members spat out words of anger over the justice system.
"He can brutally kill this wonderful kid, and now we are worried if he can get a free university education in a cushy youth facility," said the victim's aunt, Cheryl Bullock.
The hearing will continue Jan. 5.
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