The Crown is seeking a three year minimum prison sentence for a Saint John man convicted of criminal negligence causing the drug-related death of 17-year-old Gavin Adams, a case that both sides called tragic.
In December of 2013, Adams took four tabs of the psychedelic drug 25-i, which was not illegal at the time, at 28-year-old Richard Valiquette’s apartment and two days later his body was found frozen in a snowbank in the area of Chesley Drive and Hilyard Street in the north end of the city.
A medical examiner determined that Adams died of hypothermia and a forensic pathologist concluded that the 25-i would have impaired his thinking.
13 victim impact statements were submitted in this case, including one from Gavin’s sister and his mother who wrote that snowy and cold days are worst for her because they bring back images of her son’s frozen body and it ‘crushes’ her.
“How could I have protected him from this? How desperately I miss him,” writes Sonja Adams. “He had so much potential, he was a gift to the world…There is emptiness in my life and will always be there.”
Sonja Adams and her husband and Gavin’s father, David Adams, spoke about sentencing outside of the courthouse.
“Our hope as a result of this very thorough judgement from Justice Ferguson, and he’s very thorough in what he does, helps deter this kind of activity from getting worse or hopefully can protect children in the future,” says David Adams.
“I think the community has to feel secure too with the decision that’s made,” says Sonja Adams. “People are fearful for their children so with a deterrent, a good deterrent, I think that will help the community as well.”
Richard Valiquette, who plead guilty to producing 25-i, took the opportunity to address the court:
“I felt very close to Gavin,” he said. “I feel terribly about what happened.”
Valiquette says he’s tried hard to change to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) April 12, 2017
Defence says 28yo Valiquette has stopped using all drugs & ‘he feels terrible about this’ & in hindsight would have done things differently.
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) April 12, 2017
Justice Fred Ferguson told the court that he wouldn’t be handing down his decision right away because of the uniqueness of this case.
“A case like this does not come along often,” Justice Ferguson told the court. “There’s not a lot of authority in the country to cover this situation…I think justice is best served when it’s done in prudent and careful fashion.”
Valiquette will be sentenced on May 16 at 10am.
Richard Valiquette leaving the courthouse. pic.twitter.com/YPqJhF9nOo
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) April 12, 2017
