The younger of two teenage brothers charged in the fatal basketball court stabbing of 18-year-old Danillo Canales Glenn was handed a three-year sentence — the maximum term for a youth convicted of manslaughter — but was also given some credit for the time he’s already served.
The now-18-year-old will serve another year in custody followed by six months under community supervision for his manslaughter conviction.
“Your recklessness in your decision to arm yourself and attack Danillo … resulted in the most terrible outcome possible,” said Court of King’s Bench Justice Eleanor Funk in her sentencing decision on Tuesday.
Canales Glenn was killed on Sept. 5, 2023, after he was randomly attacked while playing basketball in southeast Calgary with friends.
The brothers – 16 and 18 years old at the time of the fatal attack – were charged with second-degree murder.
The younger brother was convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter following a trial.
The other brother’s trial is set to begin next month.
Neither can be named in order to protect the identity of the younger teen.
“I sincerely hope that the path you choose going forward does not bring you back into the criminal justice system ever again,” said Funk in handing down the sentence on Tuesday.
During the youth trial, court heard that two hooded teens spotted Canales Glenn and his friends playing basketball at the Copperfield Rink. They jumped the boards, pepper sprayed Canales Glenn, then beat and stabbed him.
Canales Glenn’s friends tried to save his life, but he died shortly after the attack.
An autopsy showed he suffered blunt force injuries to his head, back, chest and ribs, as well as slash and stab wounds to his heart, lung, back and arm.
Prosecutor Vicki Faulkner asked Funk to impose a three-year sentence.
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner argued for a 26-month sentence — a mix of in-custody and community supervision — and for the judge to give his client credit for the time he’s already spent behind bars.
As part of the sentencing hearing, forensic psychologist Dr. Ryan Day prepared a psychological and risk assessment report based on interviews with the teen and his parents, as well as a review of school and criminal records.
Day, who testified during the sentencing hearing, determined the teen is a moderate risk to violently reoffend and lacks the ability to learn from previous mistakes.
The teen is prone to risk taking behaviour and feels a sense of self-importance, according to the psychologist.
Day also told the court the teen lied about his criminal past. In fact, he has a prior conviction out of Montreal for robbery.
Hepner told the judge his client has “started to understand his anger and is working to better control it.”
“He’s got some insight,” said Hepner.
When given the chance to address the court, the offender apologized for his actions.
“I would like the family of Danillo to know how truly terrible I feel … I wasn’t thinking,” said the teen.
“I’m very sorry. I know sorry is just a word, but I am truly very sorry.”
