A Calgary man, Levi Romeo Mitchell, 31, has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 10 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Deborah Ann Mitchell. The tragic incident occurred on October 30, 2021, leading to the harrowing outcome.
Justice Blair Nixon, presiding over the case, characterized Levi Mitchell as “a person with a serious criminal past” while acknowledging the complicating factor of his Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), emphasizing that Mitchell operates below the cognitive level of a typical 31-year-old.
Second-degree murder convictions in Canada carry an automatic life sentence, and parole eligibility ranges from 10 to 25 years. During the recent sentencing hearing, both Crown prosecutors Tom Buglas and Gregory Whiteside, along with defense lawyer Shaun Leochko, sought a 10-year parole ineligibility period.
The tragic altercation unfolded in 2021 when Levi and his mother shared a residence in the northeast community of Pineridge. The day of the incident, a heated argument escalated, leading Deborah to arm herself with bear spray. In response, Levi, armed with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, fatally shot his mother, hiding the weapon in the furnace ducts before contacting emergency services.
Justice Nixon noted in his sentencing decision that Levi’s call to 911 suggested a moment of regret shortly after the incident occurred. A victim impact statement presented earlier in the week detailed the “crippling” heartbreak experienced by Tina Mitchell, Deborah’s sister. Despite the profound grief, Tina expressed gratitude to her nephew for admitting guilt and taking responsibility for his actions.
The court also revealed Levi Mitchell’s violent criminal history. At the time of the matricide, he was on bail for 12 criminal offenses, including weapons charges. Since 2015, Mitchell has served multiple jail sentences for offenses such as assault causing bodily harm, assault, drug possession, and weapons charges.
In 2019, he received a six-year sentence for firing shots into a home occupied by a woman and four children. Additionally, in February 2021, Mitchell’s statutory release was revoked by the Parole Board of Canada, deeming him too high a risk to the community.
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