Second degree murder
R. v. Dennis
Sentence and the Crown's position
Both are life sentences, so the bars compare how long before parole can be considered.
What the law allows
Orlan Marcel Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder after shooting his wife and his 18-year-old son at their home in Tsay Keh Dene. Crown and defence jointly proposed life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 10 years, the statutory minimum. Justice Coval accepted the joint submission, noting the Crown's concession that 10 years was materially below the normal range, and citing the guilty plea, which spared the family a trial, and the Indigenous sentencing factors in his background.
In the judge's words
1As the Crown properly concedes, the 10 years for eligibility is materially below the normal range for cases with such extreme circumstances as this. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that the interests of justice are not undermined by this joint submission.
The record
- Convicted of
- Second degree murder (CC 231(7), 2 counts)
- Prior convictions
- 13 prior convictions, 3 violent1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- Life, no parole for 10 years1
- Mandatory minimum
- Applied1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: A. Baines, A.M. Murray
Defence: L.J. Helps
Sources
- R. v. Dennis, 2026 BCSC 1113 Court decision, CanLII, May 26, 2026
[5] … As part of Mr. Dennis's agreement to plead guilty to second-degree murder, the Crown and defence agreed to a joint submission of no possibility of parole for 10 years on both convictions concurrently.
[5] … As part of Mr. Dennis's agreement to plead guilty to second-degree murder, the Crown and defence agreed to a joint submission of no possibility of parole for 10 years on both convictions concurrently.
[49] Section 235 of the Criminal Code imposes a mandatory life sentence for second-degree murder. Under s. 745(c) of the Code, there is a minimum period of parole ineligibility of 10 years.
[9] On the afternoon and early evening on April 9, 2024, Mr. Orlan Dennis was drinking alcohol with multiple people at
[47] His criminal record includes two assaults against … and one against one of his daughters. The details are these: … September 25, 2007, assault against … - suspended sentence and probation for 12 months, firearms prohibition for five years. Breach of undertaking - jail for one day (eight days' time served); … October 28, 2009, aggravated assault against … - one day in jail (18 days' time served), one-year probation. Breach of undertaking -- 14 days in jail. Mischief under - also against … - one day in jail. Breach of undertaking X5 - one day in jail, concurrent; … October 25, 2012 - impaired/.08 - 12 months' probation, one-year driving prohibition, $1,000.00 fine. Breach of undertaking - jail for 1 day; and … June 16, 2016, assault against his daughter - jail for 30 days (time served), probation for 15 months.
[56] As the Crown properly concedes, the 10 years for eligibility is materially below the normal range for cases with such extreme circumstances as this. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that the interests of justice are not undermined by this joint submission.
[63] Mr. Dennis, you are sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 10 years on both crimes concurrently.
- R. v. Dennis, 2026 BCSC 1113 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia