Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jun 2010
Source: Barrhead Leader, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2010 Barrhead Leader
Contact:  http://www.barrheadleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4737

SENTENCES SHOULD BE REDUCED AGAINST BARRHEAD MEN

About the only thing lawyers agreed on last week at the Alberta Court 
of Appeal is the tragic death of four young officers from the RCMP on 
the farm of James Roszko in March of 2005 was one of the worst cases 
in Canadian history.

Two young men from Barrhead - Shawn Hennessey, 31, and Dennis 
Cheeseman, 26 - were sentenced to long jail sentences in January of 
2009 after pleading guilty to four counts each of manslaughter for 
their role in the deaths of the four Mounties. Hennessey received a 
15-year sentence, while his brother-in-law received a 12-year sentence.

Hennessey's lawyer Hersh Wolsh and Cheeseman's lawyer Peter Royal 
argued before three justices with the province's highest court the 
sentences imposed by Justice Eric Macklin were unusually harsh and 
should be significantly reduced.

Royal described the sentence imposed against Cheeseman as "vengeful 
and savage", arguing his client's sentence should be reduced to 
between six and eight years and in the lower end of that range.

Wolsh suggested Macklin erred in imposing what amounts to a life 
sentence against Hennessey due to the national outrage involved where 
four young officers were assassinated while on duty.

Crown prosecutor Susan Hughson told the judges the Court of Appeal's 
main function is to determine if Macklin made significant errors in 
law in imposing the sentences and it was her strong opinion he did 
not and the length of sentences should stand.

What must never be forgotten is James Roszko is the person 
responsible for the irreparable carnage that took place that horrific 
and unforgettable day.

Roszko hated police. He knew they were about to shut down his 
marijuana grow operation. So he went to Hennessey's home and demanded 
a rifle from Hennessey, while brandishing a handgun in front of 
Hennessey, his wife and two young children.

The fear and intimidation that must have engulfed Hennessey and his 
family during those frightening minutes can't be measured or explained.

Hennessey and Cheeseman are doing hard time for agreeing to drive 
Roszko to his farm knowing police were on site. When Cheeseman 
suggested they call police knowing Roszko was armed and confrontation 
was likely, Hennessey talked him out of it.

For these egregious errors, they were charged with manslaughter, 
pleaded guilty and are paying a heavy price. But to suggest either 
accused could see inside Roszko's sick mind or know he would resort 
to such barbaric violence, before killing himself, seems unreasonable 
and illogical. Roszko was, as one judge noted, a "madman" bent on 
destruction. He alone killed those officers.

And he did it eight hours after he was dropped off at his farm. And 
the weapon he used wasn't the one given to him by Hennessey. To 
impose sentences in this upper range against two young men who had no 
previous contact with the law and who had every reason to be 
frightened and intimidated by a violent thug is unjust.

Shawn Hennessey and Dennis Cheeseman should not be made scapegoats 
from a vengeful justice system. They made some horrible mistakes over 
the course of a few hours while under duress and intimidation from a 
deeply disturbed killer. They did not pull any trigger. They did not 
hate police. They did not plan this.

What amounts to a life sentence is not appropriate and should be 
reduced if true justice is served.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart