What made Daniel Levesque special also got him killed, his grieving mother said Tuesday.
"Daniel loved everyone. He gave everybody a chance.
"He always said 'Everybody deserves a friend,'" Stacey Thur said minutes after her son's killer, former Prince George resident Joshua Bredo, was handed a nine-year sentence for manslaughter.
"I'm not surprised Mr. Bredo had one over on him because he played with his sympathies, his caring, his friendly nature. He had a bounce in his step and arms wide open for anybody."
Bredo, 32, killed Levesque in an apartment in Victoria on
Aug. 3, 2011.
He hit Levesque on the head three times with a hammer and physically prevented him from leaving the apartment.
Then, panicking, Bredo grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed himself on his arm, stomach and head.
Bredo called 911 and said his friend had attacked him.
On Monday, after a six-year court process bogged down by a mistrial, pretrial applications and adjournments, Bredo pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Justice Geoffrey Gaul sentenced Bredo, who has already served the equivalent of a seven-year sentence, to additional jail time of two years less a day, followed by three years probation.
"No sentence would have been long enough for us," said Thur.
"However, we are all very thankful that his legal process is over. It has been a long and gruelling six years, not at all what Daniel deserved."
Thur thanked Crown prosecutors Paula Donnachie and Rome Carot for not giving up.
She also thanked the RCMP officers and Victoria police for their work on the file.
"And today, after this, is the start of our new life, remembering Daniel for his beautiful life, without having to focus on his brutal death," Thur added.
During the emotional sentencing hearing, Thur and other family members and friends delivered wrenching victim impact statements. Many in the overflowing public gallery cried at the heartfelt words.
"It is clear that words alone cannot describe the depth and breadth of pain
Mr. Bredo's actions have caused
Mr. Levesque's family, friends and community," said Gaul, who hopes the family will find peace and solace now that the court proceedings are concluded.
Bredo met Levesque on June 15, 2011 when he hired him on the spot to work at the 7-Eleven on Douglas Street. During the next seven weeks, Bredo lied to Levesque about his sexuality, his life and family. Levesque believed him, trusted him absolutely and considered him a good friend.
Before long, Bredo developed an unhealthy infatuation for Levesque. His desire for a sexual relationship led him to lie and manipulate Levesque. He promised him a raise, a job and a trip to Cuba.
On the afternoon of Aug. 3, 2011, Levesque came to Bredo's apartment for what he believed would be an orientation session for a new job.
Bredo had been using cocaine and had slept very little for three days.
Levesque realized Bredo had been lying to him. He told Bredo they were no longer friends and tried to leave the apartment.
Bredo, who didn't want Levesque to leave and tell his friends and employer about his lies, assaulted Levesque with the hammer.
The men struggled and Levesque managed to open the door a crack. He said "Let me go. Just let me go" and "Help me. Help me."
Bredo pulled Levesque back into the living room, where he fell unconscious on the floor. Bredo picked him up and placed him face down on the couch. Then Bredo used a knife on himself and called 911.
Levesque died a few hours later in hospital.
"Much has been said over the years about Mr. Bredo by the Crown and police and much of it untrue. But this week, he had the opportunity to plead guilty to what he is in fact guilty of," said defence lawyer Tim Russell.
"He's definitely very remorseful for what happened and he's very relieved to put all of this behind him, as I'm sure everybody is."
