For the first time since the 2021 fatal arson that took the lives of three people, their families got to tell the now convicted murderer, Liam Stinson, the effect he had on their lives.
Stinson was convicted May 3 of arson and three counts of first degree murder in connection with the April 11, 2021 fire that claimed the lives of Guy “Popcorn” Henri, Jasmine Somers and Stinson’s estranged partner, Jamie-Lynn Rose.
Witnesses testified that Stinson offered to pay two men with fentanyl if they threw Molotov cocktails into a townhouse where Rose was living.
Both men testified they believed the townhouse was empty, but the Crown argued that Stinson knew it was occupied, leading to the first-degree murder charge.
Stinson has been in custody since he was arrested on April 20, 2021, and is facing a life sentence for each count of murder.
As the victim impact statements were read, Stinson leaned back in the chair of the prisoners box, arms up on the sides, as he heard what the fire which killed three people had done to their families.
All who spoke thanked the first responders, noting that the fire, and trying to save the victims, would haunt them the rest of their lives.
Speaking first was Rose’s father, Phil Wright. Her mother, Christine Wright, testified March 26 about the estranged and at times violent relationship between Stinson and her daughter, and both have been present in court as often as allowed.
“For weeks we sat through gruelling, sometimes unintelligible, mind numbing testimony; the 911 call, actually hearing and watching the moments Jamie, Guy and Jasmine were burning inside the residence,” he said, before asking: “Can you wrap your mind around that? We watched our Jamie be burned alive? Now tell us. How does that make you feel? How has that impacted your life?”
He said they had to explain her death to her children, but also, tell them the man they thought loved her, Stinson, was the one who did it.
“How would you feel if your mother, daughter, niece or sibling were intentionally burned to death? We know you already have, and if you haven't, and are now, you are wincing at the very thought of it. Nothing said or written holds any weight to describe how we feel. It just cannot be expressed. The damage is irreparable,” he said.
He also said that despite where Rose was headed with her addiction, there was always a chance to “choose a different path.”
“Steer clear, redeem herself, be a mom, sister, niece, aunt or daughter. She'll never have the chance to recalibrate and go anywhere else again. Nothing ever: she's gone. No second chances for anything. Her seat will now forever remain empty.”
He said her family would continue to carry her “spark, shine and warmth” within their hearts, and that “We've got the kids. We'll all make sure they are OK. You know you don't have to worry about that.”
Gisele Beaudry-Trottier, Henri’s mother, said through tears that although he struggled with real challenges, “he loved life, and he didn't deserve to die in his cruel way.”
She said he was always ready to “listen with his heart” and he touched many lives.
“The wonderful messages people wrote always lifted my spirits when I was down. You helped teach me to carry that life inside,” she told the court.
“I will never forget your free spirit and remember to embrace simple things.”
She said that some have told her she was blessed to have known such a beautiful, kind, generous person. “And I feel privileged and grateful to have been able to call myself his mother.
She told Stinson she hopes he “lives a long, long time,” and that every morning he wakes up and sees “bars on his doors,” and “bars on his windows,” he thinks of the people he killed, and feel the pain of those he killed with flame.
Heather McLeod, Somers’ mother-in-law, wrote a statement that was read onto the record by assistant Crown attorney, Kaely Whillans.
“Jasmine was not an ideal victim if viewed through the lens of her addiction and the activities she engaged in to support her, however, she was a survivor of ongoing childhood sexual abuse and exposure to a world of violence at a young age,” she wrote. “But she was a remarkably sensitive child and gentle soul who never lost her ability to dream of the future.”
McLeod spoke of an injured and traumatized horse that lived at her friend's farm, who would allow no one to touch him. “Jasmine was able to make an affectionate, loving connection with the animal that was impossible for others,” she said, describing the horse instantly pressing himself into Somers.
She also spoke of the trauma that their families now feel: economic ruin, the inability to work due to grief, and the changes to family which are permanent, and heartbreaking. “This crime has changed me profoundly,” she said.
Somers’ father, Dan, spoke of his faith and how it had helped him endure the pain, as well as offered him peace that his daughter was cared for beyond her life.
In addition to the words of her family, McLeod and *Somer's mother, Lianne played for the court a seven-minute slideshow of photos of Somers in better times, posing with family or mugging for the camera with friends, while the song In the Arms of the Angels, by Sarah McLachlan, played.
First up in the hearing, however, was a motion presented by defence counsel Wilkinson, asking Justice R. Dan Cornell to remove himself from the sentencing hearing.
The judge received a letter from Det.-Const. Marc Belanger, lead investigator on the case, the defense felt should be considered “ex-parte communication,” i.e. communication outside the bounds of court, without Stinson’s knowledge.
Though the contents were not described, Cornell said he did receive the letter, read it, but then “made it clear” to his assistant that he could not respond. “Out of an abundance of caution,” he said, “I forwarded the letter to the judicial ethics committee to see if there's anything that I might be missing. And once I received that response, then I passed the letter along to counsel,” meaning Crown and defence counsel.
Cornell took time to review precedent cases on the matter, then ruled that he was allowed to remain as judge. “with reasons to follow” he said. Those reasons have not yet been released.
At the next part of the hearing, Stinson will have his chance to offer the mitigating and aggravating circumstances that affected his decision to commit the crimes, as well as offer character references.
In his speech, Rose’s father Phil Wright noted that “Stinson still gets to have a second chance, to recalibrate his life” and to choose a different path.
“Never mind the burning of three people to death, the law says he'll have served his sentence, and off he goes amongst the civil folks back in the pool, another chance to live on the outside with his loved ones, with us,” said Wright. “After all, he's done poisoning our community, burning people alive, he'll get to reset the very laws that locked him up, will spew reason to eventually let him out.
“And that people, throughout all the pain, suffering and loss is the most devastating impact of all”
Stinson is set to have his sentencing hearing continue on Nov. 1. An assignment court date of Sept. 17 was also set, as there may be the need for a third date.
*Correction: this story has been edited since it was initially published to correctly identify Lianne Somers.
Jenny Lamothe covers court for Sudbury.com.