Teenage clerk’s slaying senseless, fuelled by greed: judge

A Winnipeg man responsible for the “senseless and tragic” killing of a teenage beer store clerk will serve at least 15 years in custody, a judge has ruled.

William Sampson, 54, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the Feb. 14, 2022, killing of 19-year-old John Lloyd Barrion.

“Sampson’s actions… must be regarded as senseless, violent, tragic and fuelled by greed,” Court of King’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey said Wednesday before sentencing Sampson to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

Barrion was shot dead during an early morning robbery by three masked men at the Canadiana Motor Hotel (Travelodge) at 1400 Notre Dame Ave.

Sampson showed no remorse for shooting Barrion, who was working alone and posed no threat to the robbers, and then leaving him to die, McKelvey said.

“Mr. Barrion was completely vulnerable… and could not have anticipated what was about to occur,” she said.

Sampson’s conviction hinged on the evidence of co-accused Robert Francis, 40, who was granted immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony, in which he identified Sampson as the shooter.

Francis, who was originally charged with manslaughter and armed robbery, testified he had a crack addiction when he received a call from co-accused Ryan Jeron Smith on the evening of Feb. 13, asking if he could “drive him to a job.”

Francis said Smith gave no further details, but he agreed to drive him, hoping “I would get some drugs or some money.”

Francis borrowed his brother’s Hyundai Elantra and, after picking up Smith, drove to a Young Street address, where they picked up Sampson, who Francis had met one time at a drug house.

Francis said he was directed to drive to the Canadiana hotel, where, after pulling into the parking lot, Smith and Sampson told him to cover up the vehicle’s licence plates.

When Francis returned to the vehicle, Smith and Sampson were putting gloves and masks on.

Smith handed Francis his own mask and gloves. Francis said he was “kind of terrified” when he saw Sampson pull a sawed-off rifle from a duffel bag.

After ensuring there were no customers in the store, the three men walked inside, with Francis returning briefly to the car to grab a bag.

“I expected they were just going to grab the money or something and just leave,” Francis said.

Francis threw the bag to Sampson, who was at the front counter, “telling the kid to empty the register.”

Francis said he was standing at the door when he turned around and heard a “pop” and Barrion crying out in pain.

“I got scared and ran toward the car,” and the three drove away, he said.

Security video clearly showed Barrion providing the cash drawer to the gunman as requested before moving to his left.

Francis told court he asked Sampson why he shot Barrion, and he responded: “I told the kid not to move.”

Smith, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca