Lawyers for two men convicted of a triple murder by a judge in Red Deer have argued consecutive parole ineligibilities would amount to a "death sentence."
Jason Klaus, 42, and Joshua Frank, 32, were convicted earlier this month of three charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Klaus' parents and sister who were shot to death in their beds in December 2013 before the home was burned down in an effort to conceal evidence.
The bodies of Gordon Klaus and his daughter, Monica, were found in their burned-out farmhouse near Castor, Alta. Sandra Klaus's remains were never recovered.
A first-degree murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. What is being debated in a Red Deer courtroom is whether three consecutive parole inelgibilities should be imposed on the men, meaning, if the prosecution is successful, Klaus and Frank will almost certainly die in prison.
Klaus' lawyer Allan Fay says other Alberta triple murders netted 75-year parole ineligibilities for the killers — Derek Saretzky and Douglas Garland) — but had elements of a "gruesomeness, barbaric acts and stark horror" not present in the shooting deaths of the Klaus family.
Saretzky killed two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, her father Terry Blanchette and senior Hanne Meketech in the Crowsnest Pass in 2015 and committed acts of cannibalism during the killing of the girl.
Garland was sentenced last February to life in prison without parole for 75 years for killing Alvin and Kathy Liknes and their five-year-old grandson, Nathan O'Brien, in 2014.
"He will die in jail," said Fay. "Jail is a harsh environment, it is not conducive to longevity."
Sandra, Gordon and Monica Klaus were murdered December 8, 2013. (Facebook)
Prosecutor Doug Taylor has argued the legislation was enacted to recognize the value of each individual life in a case just like this one.
"[This] was a contract killing of sorts," said Taylor, who pointed out the murders were planned days, if not weeks, before.
"We feel it's appropriate to be asking the court to impose consecutive penalties on counts two and three totalling what would be effectively life, no chance of parole, for 75 years."
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Eric Macklin said symbolic sentences "have no part in our sentencing regime in our country."
"Why are we taking this out of the hands of the parole board?" he asked Taylor. "They're the gatekeepers."
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Both killers pointed the finger at each other and each offered a confession to police during an undercover investigation.
Klaus had cocaine and gambling addictions and had been forging cheques from his parents' account. He offered Frank money to kill the family.
After his arrest, Frank told police he shot the family because he was scared Klaus would kill him if he didn't.
Gordon, Sandra and Monica Klaus were killed at the family farmhouse near Castor, Alta. in December 2013. The family dog was also killed. (RCMP)
