A man who shot his 36-year-old son to death during a fishing trip in northern B.C. has been sent to prison for four years.
Jacques Henri Seguin pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a firearm and was sentenced in provincial court in Prince George late last month.
The shooting happened on Aug. 16, 2013, during a 10-day trip. Seguin and his son Christopher were staying at Seguin's cabin on Takla Lake.
According to a written sentencing decision released this week, Seguin had a close and loving relationship with Christopher, who suffered from Fragile X syndrome, bipolar disorder and possibly Asperger's syndrome.
Christopher also struggled with drug use, had sudden and irrational mood swings and exhibited violent behaviour.
On the day of the incident, Seguin and his son went to a neighbour's cabin to barbecue the fish they had caught. Seguin brought his loaded rifle with him in case of bears. The men drank beer and were relaxed and happy.
After a couple of hours, Seguin went back to his cabin to get some spices, taking his rifle with him. When he returned, Christopher was in a rage.
Seguin shot Christopher three times. Seguin told the judge that he had once been attacked by a grizzly bear and he reacted the same way to Christopher's behaviour, shooting him without thought.
Judge Shannon Keyes believed that Seguin shot his son "in fear and alarm."
"In the circumstances of this case, the manslaughter of Christopher Seguin was not accidental, because Mr. Seguin did point the rifle at him and shoot, and pull the trigger. However, I accept that he did not intend to kill him, nor expect that that would happen," Keyes said.
Keyes accepted that Seguin is "bitterly remorseful" and said the evidence showed that he was immediately grief-stricken.
"I accept that he loved his son, and had spent years supporting him and caring for him, despite his mental health problems and volatile temper," Keyes said.
"Mr. Seguin tells me that as far as he is concerned his life is over. He sees his son's face every day."
The Crown and defence made a joint submission for a sentence of four years in prison -- the mandatory minimum sentence -- less credit for 21 days in custody.
Keyes agreed to the sentence, and recommended that Seguin be placed in a minimum-security institution and given access to counselling for grief and loss.
"There is not much more the court could do to him by way of sentence that would be more than the life sentence he has imposed upon himself."
