THUNDER BAY — A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting of Adrian Richardson at a Hodder Avenue apartment in 2022 will spend 211 more days in prison.
Henok Banjaw was sentenced to four years, minus nearly three and a half years for time served.
Justice Stephen Wojciechowski handed down his sentence Wednesday afternoon at the Thunder Bay Courthouse.
"The reality is that Mr. Banjaw is found guilty because he was in a vehicle," said a lawyer for the defence. The fact that Banjaw did not enter the apartment where Richardson was shot was considered a mitigating factor by Wojciechowski.
In sentencing, Wojciechowski gave Banjaw credit for 1,249 days in custody, which left 211 days of incarceration remaining.
In a joint decision, the crown and the defence both agreed to the 211-day sentence.
In issuing his sentence, Wojciechowski said aggravating factors included that Banjaw was aware he was attending the residency with the purpose of debt collection, that it could have been violent, that Ricketts had a firearm and that Banjaw did not call EMS when he was made aware of the fatal gunshot wound.
The judge said some of the factors working in Banjaws’ favour were that he pleaded guilty before trial, attended counselling sessions based on substance abuse and that he stayed in the vehicle that night in 2022.
Wojciechowski also said that Banjaw is now 32 years old, meaning there is time for him to be rehabilitated while in the correctional centre and, once released, will be going back to a supportive family and community.
“He has suffered some aspect of psychological distress,” said the defence.
Wojciechowski additionally read off a statement from Richardson's family,
“The immense pain that has been lost echoes daily,” read the statement heard by the court.
In addition to the jail sentence, Banjaw also received a lifetime weapons ban, 12 months of probation, and he must submit a DNA sample for records, the court heard.
Additionally, Banjaw must attend any counselling program recommended by his probation officer, find employment and pay a $200 surcharge within nine months and not contact Ricketts.
Banjaw also voiced that he would prefer the Thunder Bay correctional centre rather than the District Jail, citing resources and comfort.
Banjaw is the third person involved with the robbery to be sentenced, following Telique Ricketts and Jacob Green.
A fourth person, Aiden Collander, has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to return to court in September.
All four were initially charged with first-degree murder.
