One of three attackers who mutilated a gang associate who was co-operating with police 害羞草研究所� carving 害羞草研究所渞at害羞草研究所� into his chest 害羞草研究所� has been ordered to spend six years in a federal prison.

Ricky Dennis and Jeremy Bellows were convicted in June following a trial in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops on charges of aggravated assault and witness intimidation. Dennis was sentenced on Thursday (Oct. 29).

The court heard Dennis and Bellows stormed into the North Kamloops home of Matthew Carstairs on Aug. 21, 2018, with a plan to beat and mutilate the 29-year-old drug dealer. Carstairs had been co-operating with police investigating an unrelated shooting, earning himself the title of snitch among his criminal counterparts.

At trial, court heard Carstairs was given three options for punishment 害羞草研究所� have the fingers of one hand severed, have the word 害羞草研究所渞at害羞草研究所� burned into his flesh or have the word 害羞草研究所渞at害羞草研究所� cut into his chest. Carstairs chose the latter and the mutilation was carried out.

害羞草研究所淚t was to provoke a state of fear and the intention was to impede him in his testimony,害羞草研究所� Crown prosecutor Sarah Firestone said. 害羞草研究所淭he beating, in fact, had its intended effect temporarily, in that Mr. Carstairs initially declined to give police a full statement.害羞草研究所�

Dennis, Bellows and a third alleged attacker, Shane Cameron, were described in court as gangland enforcers led by Cameron.

Firestone said the attack on Carstairs was especially gruesome.

害羞草研究所淭his was an extremely violent and shocking assault, not only involving a beating, but a mutilation,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hese are long-lasting injuries in terms of leaving scars on his body 害羞草研究所� simply for having that label 害羞草研究所� rat.害羞草研究所�

Carstairs testified against Dennis and Bellows at trial. He also testified last year in the trial of the suspect in the shooting he helped police investigate.

Sheldon Tate, Dennis害羞草研究所� defence lawyer, said his client had an 害羞草研究所渁trocious害羞草研究所� upbringing. He was raised by his grandparents in Fort St. James and his mother was murdered when he was a teenager.

Tate said Dennis has a good job lined up for when his incarceration ends, work that will take him away from Kamloops and his criminal connections. Dennis said he害羞草研究所檚 looking forward to a fresh start after prison.

害羞草研究所淚 just want to say I do really want to be on the streets and I am working on starting my life now,害羞草研究所� the 34-year-old said. 害羞草研究所淚 just want to get my family back and I think this is the way to do it. I just want to throw that out there.害羞草研究所�

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Dev Dley sentenced Dennis to six years in a federal penitentiary.

害羞草研究所淭here is no question that, although Mr. Cameron was the leader, the entire group was involved in the enterprise,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t was also apparent that the purpose of the beating was to deliver a message to Mr. Carstairs not to co-operate with the police and to deliver a message in general that to co-operate with the police was not a healthy choice.害羞草研究所�

After being given credit for time served, Dennis has about 33 months left to spend behind bars.

Bellows will be sentenced at a later date. Last year, Cameron pleaded guilty to his charges stemming from the incident.

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