Teen killer who used hammer in murder gets maximum youth sentence

The teen who fatally bludgeoned and suffocateda Calgary father has been handedthe maximumseven year sentence for a youth convicted of second-degree murder.

Jason Greyeyes, 48, was killed on Aug. 10, 2018,attacked by two teens in the city's deep southwest near Calgary's city limits.

The teens, who were dating at the time, attacked Greyeyes from behind with a hammer before suffocating him with a garbage bag.

The now 18-year-old can't be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act as he was 15 years old at the time of the killing.

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He and his then-girlfriend were both originally charged with first-degree murder and both have since pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

A seven year sentence four in custody and three to be served in the community under strict conditions is the maximum sentence for a youth convicted of second-degree murder.

Both killers received the maximum sentence. The 18-year-old has about 12 monthscredit for the time he's already served.

Teens arrested in Halifax

Greyeyes suffered from multiple sclerosis and often required a cane or walker.

As with his killers, he was also addicted to drugs. At the time of his death, the three had travelled to the city's deep southwest so the teens could buy drugs from one of Greyeyes' sources.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Bryan Mahoney heard that after they killed Greyeyes, the teens knocked his teeth out, moved his body to a ditch, covered it with branches and bushes and fled the province.

They were arrested in Halifax weeks after the murder.

Alicia Greyeyes, the victim's wife, said she is alone and scared to face life without her husband by her side.

Teen apologizes

She described the suffering of her children, one of whom sleeps in her bed in his father's spot.

"My children lost two parentsthat day, not just their father but me as well," reads part of the statement read aloud in court by prosecutor William Tran.

Court heard that the now 18-year-old was suffering from drug and alcohol addictions at the time of Greyeyes' killing.

He also has a history of suicide attempts.

The young killer spoke in court, sobbing as he apologized to his victim's family.

"I'm truly sorry for being involved in such a horrific event," said the teen. "Jason did not deserve what I did to him at all."

"I will better myself."