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Man who beat home intruder to death sentenced to 4.5 years in prison

Stephane Michaud died days after he was found inside the home of Denis Richer’s mother
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Sudbury Courthouse. (File)

The man who beat to death an intruder in his mother’s house was sentenced last week to four and a half years in prison for manslaughter.

Denis Richer, 48, received pre-custody credit of about 1.5 years because he has been in custody since his arrest in July last year. He now has about three years left on his sentence, handed down by Superior Court Justice Alex Kurke on June 24.

Kurke also issued a lifetime weapons ban and a DNA order.

Richer was charged with attempted murder following the July 1 incident. The charge was upgraded to second-degree murder after Stephane Michaud, 45, died in hospital.

Richer then pleaded guilty on April 20 to manslaughter, with the Crown’s consent.

The court heard that Richer beat up Michaud after he had broken into Richer’s mother’s home on July 1, 2020. Michaud had fallen to the ground, unconscious, and Richer continued to kick Michaud in the head. He only stopped when witnesses yelled at him to stop.

A post-mortem determined Michaud died of blunt impact head trauma. There were no illegal drugs or alcohol in his system that night, and the court heard Michaud was likely experiencing a mental health crisis.


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