Thomas James Berube is asking the Alberta Court docket of Attraction to rethink his case after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail following a string of break-and-enters and arsons in northwestern Alberta.
In September, Berube pleaded responsible to a variety of fees associated to thefts and fires at numerous companies, in numerous cities, together with the Edson Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership, the Edson Honda dealership, a Petro-Canada in Niton Junction and Whitecourt’s KW Pet Store.
He was additionally charged with stealing and setting hearth to a truck in Edson.
Berube was 37 years outdated when he was arrested together with a 17-year-old (who can’t be named because of the Youth Prison Justice Act) in March 2020.
READ MORE: Whitecourt companies destroyed in Boxing Day hearth
Berube has been representing himself and not using a lawyer recently.
On Thursday, he requested Decide Frederica Schutz to postpone his enchantment listening to, saying he had extra documentation, together with movies, that he wished to share. He additionally requested a variety of court docket transcripts that led to his responsible plea.
“Clearly I wasn’t in the fitting state of mind,” he stated.
“I tore off my toenails. I used to be in excessive ache. I chewed a gap in my arm within the courtroom in Hinton.”
Berube then instructed that these particulars must be taken into consideration within the court docket’s decision-making.
“I do not know what I went by way of. I’ve excessive anxiousness, I’ve been identified with PTSD and an entire host of psychological issues. I’ll current it to the court docket.”
He then went on to ask about submitting a Rowbotham utility. It’s a request that the federal government pay for authorized illustration when somebody has been denied authorized support.
“I’m deprived in being a self-represented particular person. I do consider I’d be higher represented with an legal professional, if doable,” Berube stated.
READ MORE: Edson Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership hearth, car hearth could also be associated: RCMP
His crimes shook the small cities in western Alberta during which they occurred.
The primary hearth occurred in December 2019 at Edson Chrysler Dodge Jeep. Harm there was in depth, as all the workplace and showroom part was destroyed, in addition to about 60 % of the mechanic store.
The identical day a truck was set on hearth in Edson, all the cab melted away.
Two weeks later, a pet store in Whitecourt – KW Pets – went up in flames, killing all of the animals inside. The fireplace was so intense that it additionally took out a stitching store subsequent door.
On December 30, Edson Honda was additionally set on hearth. The dealership by no means reopened.
“It was very traumatic for our whole neighborhood and we’re nonetheless feeling that affect in the present day,” Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara stated.
Then, in February 2020, there was one other hearth, this time on the Petro-Canada in Niton Junction. It destroyed the fuel station.
Berube has already pleaded responsible to 2 counts of killing animals – one for the animals that died within the pet retailer, and one for a chihuahua he stole from KW Pets earlier than the fireplace and later killed.
After credit score for time served, Berube has six and a half years left on his sentence.
READ MORE: Hearth destroys Edson Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership west of Edmonton
Berube has an extended historical past of property violations in Edson and Zahara stated many individuals locally lack confidence within the justice system to correctly lock up criminals.
“Repeat offenders do not appear to get critical jail time or face critical penalties. That is one other state of affairs – a repeat offender who has pleaded responsible and is in search of an enchantment and we see it on a regular basis – with repeat offenders again on the road.”
When requested about Berube’s enchantment, Edson Chysler basic supervisor Wendy Meister advised World Information she does not suppose he’ll win an enchantment even when the court docket decides to listen to one.
She stated the dealership is now in a brand new constructing and shifting ahead.
The case will come again earlier than the Court docket of Attraction on February 2.
© 2023 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
