Man sentenced to life for random, beating deaths of three in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – A young man who was 15 when he randomly beat and killed three vulnerable people in downtown Winnipeg was sentenced as an adult Wednesday and handed a life sentence.

Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Justice Gerald Chartier said the now 18-year-old can apply for parole after seven years.

The man, who can’t be identified because of a publication ban, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of manslaughter.

Court heard he viciously attacked the three victims within an hour in August 2022.

Danielle Ballantyne and Marvin Felix died. Troy Baguley spent several months in hospital before he was taken off life-support.

The defence asked the court to sentence the killer as a youth, with a maximum seven-year term — four years in custody and three to be served in the community. 

Crown prosecutors argued for an automatic life sentence as an adult. They recommended seven years of parole ineligibility. 

The judge sided with the Crown and said a youth sentence wasn’t sufficient.

“These offences were all serious and extremely violent physical attacks on random strangers and carried out in three separate in instances in quick succession,” Chartier said in his decision. 

The string of random assaults happened on the morning of Aug. 22, 2022. Officers were first called to a parking lot, where they found Baguley, 51, injured. 

Court heard the offender punched and kicked the man and jumped on his head.

The attack, captured on a surveillance camera, lasted about seven minutes. Baguley suffered a traumatic brain injury and, in March 2023, was taken off life-support machines.

Police found the body of the second victim at a nearby apartment. Ballantyne, a 36-year-old mother of four, had suffered serious injuries, including head trauma.

Felix, a 54-year-old amputee, was sleeping in his wheelchair when he was dragged to the ground. The assault, also captured on surveillance video, shows his head was stomped on several times. He died in hospital four days later.

A young co-accused earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of Ballantyne and Felix. He has not been sentenced.

Court was told the 18-year-old offender couldn’t give a reason for the attacks.

He had been convicted of previous assault and weapons offences and was staying at a healing lodge, where he was supposed to follow a curfew, at the time of the attacks.

He had been drinking alcohol and taken Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, and couldn’t remember a large portion of what happened. He took responsibility for the killings and expressed regret.

Court heard the First Nations man from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba witnessed alcohol and domestic abuse at home.

He was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, substance use disorder with alcohol and prescription pills, and a mild intellectual disability.

The judge said he determined there was no “causal connection” between the man’s behaviour and his diagnoses.

He has been considered a high risk to reoffend, but a report notes his behaviour has shown improvement since November 2024.

The judge said the long-term protection of the public is best served by a life sentence and the offender would benefit from treatment in a highly structured environment.

Ballantyne’s younger brother said outside court he agreed with the judge.

“Although the sentencing does not bring back my sister or the two other victims, I feel that justice has served,” said Bobby Ballantyne.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2025.