And Joseph George Sutherland’s punishment for the 1983 killings entails a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 21 years. This means that the 61-year-old resident of Moosonee is expected to spend the remainder of his days behind bars.
Despite enduring a difficult upbringing, battling alcoholism, undergoing a Gladue Report assessment, and maintaining a clean record for nearly four decades, these factors did not sway the sentencing decision.
The 62-year-old individual from Moosonee received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years before being considered for parole on Friday. If ever granted parole, he would be in his 80s by the time he re-enters society after spending a significant portion of his life in the confines of prison.
During a horrifying period in 1983, the individual, who worked in the IT field, committed the heinous acts of raping and murdering Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour. In October of the previous year, he admitted guilt to two counts of second-degree murder related to these brutal crimes.
The impact of homicide is a deeply disturbing and lasting tragedy. Those affected are forever changed by the loss. This was particularly true in the cases of Tice, a 45-year-old mother of four, and Gilmour, a young woman of 22 whose life was tragically cut short, leaving her younger siblings to face the aftermath.
Crown Attorney Michael Cantlon emphasized the enduring pain experienced by the families and friends of the victims, who never stopped remembering the lives of these two extraordinary women, brutally taken from them in their own homes.
Sutherland attempted to move on with his life, getting married and starting a family. However, the dedicated Cold Case Unit of the Toronto Police Service persisted in their pursuit of justice for the Tice and Gilmour murders over the years.
Detective-Sergeant Steve Smith, the head of the unit, described the investigation as one of the most challenging in Toronto’s history. He credited genetic genealogy as a crucial tool in solving the case, highlighting the relentless efforts that led to this long-awaited resolution for the families involved.
Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell delivered the final verdict on Sutherland’s fate at 4 p.m. on Friday, declaring that his life as a free man had effectively ended. Despite Sutherland’s claims of remorse and attempts at redemption, Justice Forestell remained unconvinced, emphasizing the gravity of his actions and the lasting impact on the victims’ families.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, it became evident that the mitigating circumstances presented by Sutherland’s defense were insufficient to outweigh the severity of his crimes. The profound loss experienced by the families of the victims, spanning nearly four decades, left an indelible mark that mere expressions of regret could not erase.
Looking ahead, Detective-Sergeant Smith issued a stern warning to other perpetrators who have evaded justice, cautioning them that advancements in genetic genealogy have made previously unsolvable cases resolvable. His message was clear: those who have committed heinous crimes should not rest easy, as law enforcement remains dedicated to bringing them to justice.