Hefty sentence needed to deter Calgary gunplay, court told

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Crown prosecutor William Tran stated Choose Mark Tyndale ought to sentence Calgary man Hasron Araya to a time period of 4-4½ years on a cost of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm.

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Tran offered an affidavit from Performing Employees Sgt. Ben Lawson of the Firearms Investigation Crew, which reveals shootings within the metropolis, has skyrocketed between 2018 and 2022.

In his affidavit, Lawson says that shootings, outlined as the place a sufferer or property is shot at or shot at, jumped 174 p.c over that interval.

In Tran’s written submission to Tyndale, he indicated to the Calgary Justice Courtroom choose that possession of a loaded restricted firearm is essentially the most severe possession offense within the Legal Code.

“Handguns are deadly weapons, and so they empower the possessor with the power to kill with the pull of a set off,” Tran wrote.

“In a public area, they threaten the security of all bystanders.”

Tyndale convicted Araya, 21, of seven firearm-related offenses final December 23, together with having a restricted and loaded semi-automatic handgun, in reference to an incident on January 7, 2021.

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Araya had a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun whereas driving in a car after which later inside a Customers Drug Mart.

Tran famous that the annoying elements within the case embody the truth that he had the weapon in a crowded place.

“Araya carried the loaded handgun throughout the afternoon … amongst quite a few harmless bystanders inside and out of doors a busy shopping center space,” he wrote.

As well as, the rifle had a totally loaded 10-round journal.

“Society’s condemnation of loaded handguns in the neighborhood in broad daylight in busy purchasing areas the place the presence of harmless bystanders, together with harmless kids, is fairly anticipated can’t be understated.”

Protection lawyer Derek Jugnauth instructed a suspended sentence of two years, adopted by probation.

A date for Tyndale’s sentencing choice for Araya, who stays free on bail, might be set subsequent week.

KMartin@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @KMartinCourts