Warning: Graphic details in this story will be disturbing to some readers.
A Rocky Mountain House man who pleaded guilty to shooting a young mother has been sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 13 years.
Marshall Lawrence Stone was sentenced in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench Friday afternoon – he had previously pleaded guilty to the 2019 second-degree murder of Ashley Ames.
The Rocky Mountain House mother died on the floor after being shot twice in the head while trying to protect her sister Alexis, who was Stone’s common-law partner. Ashley’s son and two other children were watching TV in the next room at the time.
Under the Criminal Code, Stone was set to face a life sentence without parole eligibility between 10 and 25 years for second-degree murder. Earlier this month, Crown prosecutor Greg Gordon argued the sentence should have no parole eligibility for 15 years. The defence wanted 12 years.
On Friday, Justice Monica Bast made the decision to have Stone’s parole ineligibility last 13 years.
Additionally, a mandatory prohibition order was made, meaning Stone will not be able to possess any firearm, prohibited weapon or device, and any restricted weapon or ammunition for the rest of his life.
Stone was also sentenced to four years of imprisonment for discharging a firearm at Alexis with the intent to cause harm, said Bast. That sentence will be served concurrently with his life sentence.
According to an agreed statement of facts, the domestic violence incident occurred July 26, 2019 at a townhouse in Rocky, when Stone arrived home after drinking between five and eight beers, and got into an argument with Alexis in the kitchen of their townhouse.
Three children under the age of 11 — belonging to the couple, as well as the young son of Alexis’ sister Ashley — were watching TV in the living room.
Stone went downstairs to get a rifle. Both sisters were in the kitchen when Stone pointed the rifle at his partner Alexis, who deflected the barrel and avoided being hit the first time he fired.
Stone reloaded and again aimed at Alexis — but Ashley stepped in front of her sister as Stone fired. Ashley was struck with a .22 calibre bullet through her left eye.
According to the statement of facts, Ashley fell to her knees crying, and the children ran out the door, calling for help.
Alexis then hit Stone with a chair and received a cut to her forehead before escaping out the door. Stone admitted to returning to Ashley, who had been lying on her stomach on the kitchen floor and firing a second bullet into the back of her head, killing her.
Stone turned himself in to the Rocky RCMP detachment that same evening. He told police he had little memory of the shooting. He has been in custody for almost 27 months.
Walter Raponi, Stone’s lawyer, said his client wished for an endorsement from the court, allowing him to serve his sentence at the federal institution closest to Rocky Mountain House so he can see his family. Bast said she will endorse that recommendation, but noted there is no guarantee the recommendation will be followed.
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