Partner put on probation for part in suicide pact

BY KEITH LACEY

Kevin Ambler and Marcel Langlois made a suicide pact and both ingested huge amounts of morphine and pills 18 months ago. Langlois died, but Ambler lived and was charged with assisting a suicide.

After pleading guilty, Ambler, who is a recovering hard-core drug addict, was sentenced to 15 months of probation in a case the presiding judge called one of the most unique he's heard.

Ambler, 41, and Langlois, 39, were lifelong partner. Both were addicted to drugs and suffering from depression. They made a pact to end their lives the evening of March 9, 2005, said defence counsel Alex Toffoli.

Ambler, who also abused alcohol, had attempted suicide several times previously, his lawyer said.

Ambler spent three months in jail before being granted bail. The turnaround in his life has been "truly remarkable" as he's completely rehabilitated himself, said Toffoli.

"That was before...the after is a totally rehabilitated individual...with Kevin Ambler, the after is amazing," he said.

Toffoli read into the court record letters from a drug counsellor, church chaplain and Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor who all confirmed Ambler has made extraordinary progress. Ambler currently lives with his sister, who has been a tremendous support.

"He's an individual whose change is genuine," said the church chaplain in his support letter.

The AA sponsor writes Ambler was a angry and confused man when he met him, but 18 months later has quit all drugs and alcohol, increased self-esteem and shown every indication he wants to become a contributing member of society.

Assistant Crown attorney Susan Bruce said sentencing Ambler to a jail sentence would serve no purpose.

"This is one of the rarest set of facts that will ever come before this court," she said.

This case clearly shows the damage hard core drug use can inflict on people, said Bruce.

"They got sucked into the vortex of drug addiction...that firstly got out of control and then spiralled...where death was the only option," she said.

The Crown is "totally convinced" Ambler has rehabilitated himself and is sincere in staying clean and sober and improving his life, said Bruce.

"His rehabilitation is completely genuine," she said.

Before Justice Robert Del Frate of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice imposed sentence, Ambler said "this tragedy has really changed my life...I've worked very hard to get to where I am today."

He misses his partner greatly and will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life, he said.

Del Frate said the unique circumstances in this case make his concur imposing a jail sentence is not necessary.

"His past demons seem to have been tamed to a large extent," he said.

"I am confident he is of not a danger...he has great support systems perhaps for the first time in his life."

During the 15 months of probation, Ambler must abstain completely from alcohol and non-prescription drugs and continue attending AA and other counselling as recommended by his probation officer.