Sentencing delayed for man who killed his mother in Richmond
Posted May 10, 2018 11:42 am.
Last Updated May 10, 2018 1:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A man found guilty of killing his mother with an axe in Richmond will have to wait another two months before he is sentenced.
Darwin Lescano was convicted of second-degree murder in his mother’s death in 2015. Redelma Belisario, who was 62 at the time, was found dead on the floor of her living room in the home on Woodhead Road in May.
Defence lawyer Brian Coleman argues Lescano was taking drugs at the time of the murder. His client will now undergo a psychiatric evaluation as part of a risk assessment ordered after a jury found him guilty two months ago.
“It would be a matter of determining if it’s a drug problem. And [if a] drug problem is addressed, it reduces the risk factor.”
Coleman says the assessment will shed some light on Lescano’s state of mind at the time of the killing. The evaluation was ordered when he was convicted as part of a pre-sentence report.
Second degree murder comes with a life sentence.
“The only real issue is how long before he’s eligible for parole,” Coleman says. “The judge can recommend, can order that he serve anywhere from 10 to 25 years before he’s eligible for parole, and that’s what the issue is. Crown will be asking for something in excess of 10 years and I’ll be asking for considerably less than they’re asking for.”
Crown and defence are set to make arguments back at BC Supreme Court in early June, with tentative dates for sentencing scheduled in July.
