THUNDER BAY — A judge will decide in the new year how long a man convicted of manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Cody Bulmer will spend in jail.
A sentencing hearing was held virtually on Tuesday afternoon for Daniel Blais, who previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he was initially charged by Thunder Bay Police with second-degree murder.
Both Blais and Josh Kakegamic were charged with second-degree murder in June 2022 following Bulmer’s death on May 23, 2022.
Bulmer’s body was found inside a residence in the 1400 block of Balmoral Street.
Kakegamic turned himself in to police on June 1, 2022 and Blais was taken into custody on June 9, 2022.
The charge against Kakegamic has since been withdrawn.
Blais appeared in court via video on Tuesday from the Toronto South Detention Centre.
Crown lawyer, Sean Horgan, asked Justice John Fregeau to consider a sentence of eight years minus 1,431 days credit for pre-trial custody. If accepted, that would leave Blais with four years and one month left to serve in custody.
Defence lawyer Gil Labine asked for five years in jail minus credit for time already served.
Horgan said Bulmer was a daily recreational user of fentanyl and other illicit drugs and cited aggravating factors the judge should consider – primarily that Bulmer was unconscious, defenceless and vulnerable and did not resist or fight back at any time.
He said Bulmer was the victim of a “prolonged, vicious beating” that lasted 15 to 20 minutes and was planned and deliberate.
After Blais had discovered Bulmer had stolen from him, Blais arranged for a ride, travelled to Bulmer’s location and engaged in the beating, said Horgan, adding the beating was “exacted for the purpose of revenge and preservation of (Blais’) reputation as a drug dealer.”
Bulmer suffered 79 external injuries, including blunt force trauma and lacerations to several organs including his lung, kidney, spleen and intestines.
During defence submissions, Labine said Blais’ trust was breached by Bulmer, his friend, when Bulmer stole money, drugs and electronics from Blais and said this was not a planned killing but “an attempt by Mr. Blais to have his items returned.”
Labine argued Bulmer was awake and not asking for help when Blais left the residence and that Bulmer was walking and talking, and he was in the residence for 20 hours before he was found deceased.
There is also no evidence Bulmer was unconscious during the beating, argued Labine.
Labine began to say Bulmer was not without fault as to why the incident took place when the judge interrupted to ask if Labine was suggesting Bulmer brought it on himself.
“By stealing he invited a beating that caused his death?” asked Fregeau.
“He didn’t invite a beating but did invite an exchange between himself and the man he stole from,” replied Labine.
“They didn’t go there with a knife or gun expecting to kill him,” said Labine.
It wasn’t to exact revenge but for Blais to get his materials back, said Labine.
When asked by the judge if he had anything he wanted to say, Blais said he wasn’t sure what to say.
“I’m not completely guilty of anything but I’m not completely innocent either,” he said. “I wish none of this happened.”
Justice Fregeau said he was reserving his decision on sentencing as “it’s a difficult decision that requires a fair bit of analysis.”
The matter will return to court on Jan. 27, 2025 to schedule a date for the release of the sentencing decision.
