THUNDER BAY - A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the 2017 beating death of 50-year-old Robert Lloyd Gray will learn later this month how long he will serve for his second manslaughter conviction.
A sentencing hearing was held in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Monday for Garnet Loon, 44, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November 2019 for his role in the death of Gray of Mishkeegogamang First Nation.
Crown attorney, Trevor Jukes and defense counsel, Danial Gunn, provided Justice Danial Newton a joint submission with a range of time in custody between 13 and 17 years.
During the hearing, Jukes read into the record the agreed statement of facts, which detail the events that led to Gray’s death.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Thunder Bay Police Service received a 911 call on July 1, 2017 after two women who had not heard from him for several days discovered the body of Gray inside a residence on the 200 block of Carl Avenue.
When Police arrived, Gray was found deceased on a stairwell and the body of 22-year-old Kory-Lee Campbell was discovered in the living room. She was found lying on her back with an arm across her face and blood and hair in her hand.
It appeared as though an altercation had taken place inside and there was a substantial amount of blood found on the walls and on the living room floor.
A post-mortem examination found multiple blunt impact traumas to Gray’s head, as well as contusions and lacerations over the face. Gray suffered an axonal injury to the brain and the impact injuries indicate survival of a period of hours prior to death.
Garnet Loon, along with his daughter, Kailee Loon, were located in Sioux Lookout and charged with second-degree murder in relation to Gray’s death. Kailee Loon was also charged with assault in connection to Campbell’s death.
During the investigation by Thunder Bay Police, which included evidence provided by Kailee Loon, the incident took place on the night of June 27. Kailee Loon, along with Garnet Loon and Gray were at the Carl Avenue residence consuming alcohol.
Campbell, who is the stepdaughter of Garnet Loon, arrived unannounced and was upset over the recent death of her boyfriend and Garnet Loon and Gray became annoyed that she was crying and told Kailee Loon to beat her up.
The two women then began to ‘box’ in the living room, encouraged by both Gray and Garnet Loon.
Both women had bloody noses and Campbell was upset that the men had encouraged she and Kailee Loon to fight.
Garnet Loon and Gray then began to argue, with Gray upset with Garnet Loon’s treatment of Campbell. The argument turned physical and the men exchanged punches. Gray was knocked down after being hit in the face and Garnet Loon struck him in the head several times with a skateboard and Gray stopped moving.
Garnet Loon then told Kailee Loon to get a knife from the kitchen and she was only able to find a two-pronged fork and she said she saw Garnet Loon making a thrusting motion with the fork towards the body of Gray.
Gray’s blood was found on both the skateboard and the fork, which had its prongs bent back.
Garnet Loon and Kailee Loon left the residence and were observed on CCTV video. It was determined that Gray was still alive when they left and moved to the stairwell where he was found.
Kailee Loon pleaded guilty to assault in connection to Gray and Campbell’s deaths and she has since been released from custody after being sentenced to one day less time served.
Victim impact statement
A victim impact statement by a family member of Gray’s was shared in court. She said his death has affected his entire community of Mishkeegogamang First Nation.
“It impacts relationships,” she said. “We are all interconnected. Everyone is affected by the lost of Robert and Kory.”
Both Gray and Garnet Loon were members of the Native Syndicate Gang and have extensive criminal pasts.
“When you talk about Robert, you talk about a different side,” the family member said. “The court talks about a Robert I didn’t know. It talks about his record or criminal history. I don’t know that side.”
The family member said Gray’s family has never been the same since his death, but she extended forgiveness to Garnet Loon.
“I want to say, from myself as an individual, I want to say I forgive you Garnet,” she said. “I pray you see that forgiveness, that you forgive yourself, and you seek forgiveness from the creator.”
Joint submission
The Crown and defense presented a joint submission with a range of time in custody between 13 and 17 years. In his submission, Gunn, who is representing Loon, said his client has expressed remorse for his actions.
“Loon wanted to accept responsibility because he killed his friend,” Gunn said. “This hurts because he was his closest friend.”
Gunn also said both men were engaged in a dangerous lifestyle, were intoxicated at the time of the incident, and have violent histories.
A Gladue report also detailed Loon’s upbringing, which Gunn described as: “Life for Mr. Loon had been a struggle, a brutal struggle. As it has been for his community and people.”
During his submission, Jukes referred to the brutal nature of the beating inflicted upon Gray, as well as Loon’s previous conviction for manslaughter.
“Part of the beating occurred while he was defenseless, that he was left at the time, in a pool of blood in the living room,” Jukes said. “There was no attempt to render assistance. And he left the community and went to Sioux Lookout.”
Loon was found guilty in 2009 of manslaughter for his role in the beating death of 18-year-old Jordan Achneepineskum.
“The range of 13 to 17 is appropriate,” Jukes said. “I think it’s a range that takes into account Mr. Loon’s recent previous conviction for manslaughter, on top of the extensive record for violence.
“The court has to be concerned about the safety of the public.”
When given the opportunity to speak, Loon apologized to the family of Gray and for the pain he has caused.
“My actions were inexcusable,” he said.
Loon is being credited with 920 days of pre-sentence custody, enhanced to 1,380 days, or three years and 10 months.
Justice Newton is expected to return with his sentence on Jan. 29, 2020.
