Convicted murderer Craig Pope ineligible for parole for 11 years

On Thursday afternoon, Craig Pope learned he will have to wait 11 years into his life sentence before he can apply for parole. (Elizabeth Whitten/CBC)

Convicted murderer Craig Pope will have to wait 11 years until he is eligible for parole while serving his sentence.

Justice Glen Noel handed down the sentence in a packed St. John's courtroom Thursday.

"A life sentence means Mr. Pope will always be subject to the control of the parole authorities, assuming he is released, and that is not a sure thing," said Noel.

"There are matters Mr. Pope will have to go through while incarcerated to satisfy the authorities that he can be released into the community."

In December, a jury found Pope guilty of second-degree murder in the 2017 stabbing death of Jonathan Collins. That verdict comes with a life sentence and no chance of parole for a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 25.

Earlier this month, the Crown and defence presented their arguments on what the minimum parole eligibility should be. The Crown asked for 12 years before Pope could apply for parole — the same amount asked for in Pope's first trial — whereas his lawyers, Mark Gruchy and Kathy Moulton, asked for between 10 and 11 years.

After the sentencing, Pope was led away in handcuffs. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

Pope was also found guilty of two counts of breach of probation, for which he was sentenced to 60 days in prison. Pope is also prohibited for life from having firearms, restricted weapons, ammunition or explosives in his possession.

Justice Noel spent much of an hour going through the facts of the case, the events that led to the death of Collins on Mundy Pond Road in broad daylight, and the impact it has had on the Collins family.

Noel said he wanted to recognize the "unfathomable" harm that Pope's actions caused the family.

Collins was only 36 years old with two children, the youngest of whom has special needs, he noted. Earlier this month, Collins's mother, Yvonne Noseworthy, and his two sisters read out victim impact statements. Noel said they showed courage through their "heart-wrenching statements."

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"I heard in your voices and saw in your faces the horrendous grief and suffering you are enduring as a family," he told the family, who were sitting in the courtroom Thursday.

There was a packed courtroom on Thursday to hear Justice Glen Noel to hear his decision regarding Craig Pope’s parole ineligibility. (Elizabeth Whitten/CBC)

Noel said any sentence he imposes on parole ineligibility wouldn't mitigate the horror of what Pope had done.

Pope was taken back into custody after the sentencing was read.

Long road

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Crown prosecutor Shawn Patten raised the possibility of appealing for more parole ineligibility.

"At this point we just look at the file, see if there's any errors of law and if there is an error in law, whether we feel [it's] something we should appeal. But right now, we're just going to take some time to reflect on the case," said Patten.

Crown prosecutors Shawn Patten and Kathleen O'Reilly had asked Justice Glen Noel to impose 12 years before parole ineligibility. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

He said it's been a long time and a lengthy legal process for the family since since the murder in 2017.

"They've been dealing with this, and we're happy for them that they can try to get some closure now and you know, that's the key for us," said Patten.

"We really just want them to be able to move on. And for myself and my colleague, it's just on to the next file and to do the best work we can do."

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