10-year sentence for gang member who shot defector

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This article was published 01/06/2010 (5925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – He tried to walk away from a Winnipeg street gang – and ended up paralyzed for life.

Full details of a June 2008 attack emerged publicly for the first time this week, painting a grim picture of the challenge facing those who want to escape a criminal lifestyle.

Justin Meeches, 32, pleaded guilty Monday to shooting the 36-year-old victim twice in the head and back as payback for turning his back on the Indian Posse. He was sentenced to 10-years in prison under a joint-recommendation from Crown and defence lawyers.

“You deserve every minute of the time you will serve,” said Queen’s Bench Justice Glenn Joyal.

Meeches admits going to the victim’s Ross Avenue home, armed with a .22 calibre rifle, and opening fire immediately after his former gang associate opened the door. The victim’s spinal cord was severed, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair.

The man’s girlfriend and a child were in the home at the time. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but was briefly conscious and able to explain to police what happened. Police sealed off the area and spent hours searching for Meeches, who was able to escape. A Canada-wide warrant was eventually issued for his arrest and he was arrested weeks later.

“There’s no honour among thieves,” Winnipeg police Const. Blair Good told the Free Press at the time.

Crown attorney Brent Davidson told court the victim had recently left the Indian Posse, which didn’t sit well with senior members including Meeches.

“He felt that the brotherhood the organization was founded upon was disintegrating and that members were simply interested in exerting their power and controlling the drug trade,” said Davidson.

The victim was prepared for violence but only thought he was going to beaten by Meeches, court was told. Defence lawyer Kathy Bueti said Meeches was also planning to leave the Indian Posse once he “sent a message” by shooting the victim.

“He didn’t necessarily want to kill him… he knew a serious injury was possible.,” said Bueti.

Meeches was originally charged with attempted murder but the Crown agreed to drop it in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser offence of discharging a firearm with intent to maim or wound.

Meeches was given credit for 32 months of time already spent in custody, meaning he has another seven years, four months left on his sentence.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca