Killer labelled dangerous offender

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This article was published 01/07/2021 (1640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man convicted in a fatal drug-house shooting has been designated a dangerous offender after a judge ruled his long history of violence and resistance to treatment poses aongoing threat to the community.

A jury found Cameron Bounthieng Kinnavanthong, 36, guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent following a trial in 2019. His sentencing was delayed as prosecutors mounted a case that he should be labelled a dangerous offender.

Kinnavanthong’s record includes multiple convictions for violence, both in the community and while in custody and a dozen convictions for disobeying court orders.

In 2011, Kinnavanthong was sentenced to nine years in prison after he and three co-accused forced their way into a drug dealer’s home and assaulted a man before fleeing with over $9,000 in cash and marijuana.

During previous periods in custody, Kinnavanthong, who has been diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder, resisted treatment and counselling, calling it “a waste of time,” court heard Wednesday.

As a dangerous offender, Kinnavanthong will remain in prison until parole board officials are satisfied it is safe to release him.

“I’m not confident there is a set time that Mr. Kinnavanthong could be safely out in the community,” Queen’s Bench Justice Gerald Chartier said Wednesday. “Mr. Kinnavanthong’s risk cannot be managed in the community at the expiration of a straight sentence.”

William Sumner, 27, was fatally shot after Kinnavanthong and four other men stormed into a Pritchard Avenue crack house armed with a handgun, machete and bear spray looking to collect a drug debt.

Sumner was shot once in the leg and once, fatally, in the hip, as the shot travelled to his heart. Another man was shot once in the thigh and made a full recovery.

In a police interview video played for jurors, Kinnavanthong admitted firing the gun two times, but claimed it was a reflex after he was overcome by bear spray and that he did not mean to hit anyone.

A one-time co-accused, who testified for the prosecution and did not face charges in connection to the shooting, told jurors he heard co-accused Gene Lester Malcolm say: “Shoot him in the leg, he can’t die like that,” and saw Kinnavanthong fire two shots.

Malcolm, who faced the same charges as Kinnavanthong, was later acquitted.

Co-accused Leon Patchinose was found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated assault and sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

Co-accused Jonathan Catcheway, who court was told was the one who was owed the drug debt and set the home invasion in motion, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca