Former Grand Forks resident Kenneth Carlson has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for manslaughter at the Peace River Provincial Court in Grande Prairie, Alta. on Nov. 11.
Originally charged with second-degree murder, Carlson, 52, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Martin Cook, 47, last month.
Dorothy Carlson, mother of Kenneth Carlson, stated he has already served 121 days in custody, which would reduce his sentence to seven years and two months.
In his final statement, Justice V. O. Ouellette declared that mitigating factors in Carlson’s plea included his immediate guilty plea, his confession, leading police to the body and his continued signs of remorse that involved concern for Cook’s only son, Thomas, 23.
On the other hand, aggravating factors were the multiple stabbings, the thorough clean-up of the crime scene, and the lapsed days between when the crime took place and when Carlson began to communicate and assist police.
Thomas had prepared a victim impact statement to be read by the Crown prosecutor. Several of Cook’s family members also spoke.
Martin Cook’s sister Marie Seymour said, “It’s a mixed bag of feelings, and I can’t speak for anybody else because they all have their own feelings about it. All I can say is that we are happy it is over.”
Dorothy Carlson mentioned that she received a call from Kenneth from jail and he is receiving counseling but he would never be the same.
“My son has been going to counseling. He was on bail for almost a year, and he and I went to counseling every Tuesday,” stated Dorothy. “He’ll never be the same; he’s lost to us.”
Letters of support from Carlson’s family members and co-workers were also provided to show his lack of violent history and work ethic.
Carlson and Cook, also a former resident, were last seen together in Cook’s truck in Hines Creek on Aug. 12, 2010.
On Aug. 14, 2010, one of the men’s debit cards was used at a Fas Gas service station in Manning, Alta. 100 kilometres northeast of Hines Creek. That same day, Fairview RCMP reported the two men missing.
Carlson was found with Cook’s missing truck at an isolated oil lease northwest of Manning on Aug. 19, 2010. “Carlson was located in the victim’s truck by Manning, Alta., just off a road called the Chinchaga Road,” stated Fairview RCMP Bruce Bracken. “It’s a rural gas and logging road, and that’s where he was found in the victim’s truck and arrested.”
After leading police to Cook’s body, located west of Hines Creek, Carlson was charged with second-degree murder.
Autopsy revealed Cook had been stabbed to death multiple times.
According to Bracken, the dispute that may have ended Cook’s life is considered a civil matter.
“I know (the other family is) angry, and we liked Marty, so I don’t want to point fingers,” said Dorothy Carlson. “But they’re hurting and so are we. We’ve lost somebody too.”
Seymour stated this incident has divided the community.
“It seemed like it would have been different if it had been a complete stranger that had done this, but it was a local family involved,” Seymour said. ““To me, no amount of time would ever feel like enough and nothing will bring my brother back.”