Steven Michael Neville will be eligible for parole after serving 12 years of his life sentence for second-degree murder, a Newfoundland Supreme Court justice said today in St. John’s.
“This was a tragedy of multiple dimensions. So many have lost so much," Justice Carl Thompson said in handing down the decision. "The losses cannot be replaced."
Neville, 22, of Paradise, was found guilty following a lengthy trial, of second-degree murder in the death of Doug Flynn, 19, and the attempted murder of Ryan Dwyer.
Both men were stabbed repeatedly during a confrontation that happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 9, 2010 on Carlisle Drive in Paradise. Dwyer was badly injured, but survived. Flynn died from a knife wound to the temple.
Since murder carries a mandatory life sentence, the only issue had been to determine when Neville can be eligible for parole.
The Crown suggested between 13-15 years before parole eligibility, while defence said the minimum of 10 years was sufficient.
The defence has indicated it will appeal the ruling.
I am a punk who happens to be literate and educated and reads the telegram. I also am highly educated on both sides of the murder, as I indirectly knew all the fellas involved and had relationships with those that were directly involved, it is very much so a tragedy. The 'punks' on the street understand that things can and should never go that far, and even the biggest criminals I've encountered look at this particular situation and say "yeah, dude. That's f*ucked up." Second degree murder is far from typical on the streets of Newfoundland. Even with drugs like cocaine that fueled this fateful confrontation, the bys realize this isn't Compton. One murder case in a society where it's extremely rare WITHOUT A DOUBT teaches the other 'punks' a lesson, as loss affects everybody, even criminals. Not all teenagers are ignorant and homocidle.