Pubdate: Wed, 28 Feb 2007
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Cheryl Wierda

GROW-OP MURDERER NETS LIFE SENTENCE AS CAREER CRIMINAL

The brutal killing of Timothy Veinot at the hands of  Edward Diakew in
his marijuana grow house in April 2005  has resulted in a term of life
imprisonment for Diakew.

The 47-year-old, who had been charged with first degree  murder,
pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of  Veinot on Monday, and
will be ineligible for parole for  15 years, Justice Alison Beames
ruled.

"The killing of Mr. Veinot was brutal and horrifying,"  said Beames,
highlighting evidence which showed Veinot  was shot three times -
including once between the  eyes - and stabbed 16 times.

As well, he suffered an estimated 28 to 50 blows with a  variety of
instruments, including a two by four.

During the sentencing hearing, Beames heard how Diakew  drove his
camperized van to 2508 Sexsmith Rd. on April  19, 2005.

He had an acquaintance who lived in a separate house on  the property
walk over to the home shared by Veinot,  43, and roommate Ron Fazakas.

Veinot wasn't home, but Diakew told Fazakas, who had  been clipping
buds on the marijuana in the basement,  that he would be taking over
the grow operation.

At 11 a.m. that morning, Veinot returned home and  walked "four or
five steps" into his house when his  girlfriend, who was with him,
heard a shot and saw  Veinot grabbing his forehead, Crown counsel Dave
Ruse  said.

The girlfriend, Danielle Vedan, fled from the house,  hearing thumping
and more gunshots, and later peered  into a window to see Diakew
punching Veinot.

Diakew, Ruse said, told the girlfriend to go, and he  continued
punching Veinot.

Eventually Diakew, blood covering his face, hands and  clothes, came
out of the house and convinced Vedan to  leave by telling her Veinot
was OK.

He phoned Vedan at 2 p.m. and arranged to call her at 8
p.m.

That call never came, and Vedan eventually returned to  the Sexsmith
Road home, kicked the door in, and found  the lifeless body of Veinot
in the living room, a quilt  covering his face, and a two by four
under his right  foot.

Several days later, on April 22, police found  Diakew's burned out van
near Penticton.

He was arrested in Burlington, Washington in August  2005, and was
returned to Canada to face the murder  charge.

"I truly regret putting myself into that situation and  the outcome of
that situation," Diakew said during his  sentencing hearing. "There's
nothing I can say that  will bring him back."

During defence submissions, lawyer Wade Jensen  highlighted that the
murder was not planned or  deliberate, and noted the victim was
described as  "unpredictable" with a reputation for extreme violence.
As well, his client, who was in and out of group homes  as a youth,
expressed remorse for his actions.

That remorse and Diakew's guilty plea were looked  upon favourably by
Beames, but she noted his extensive  criminal record and the brutality
of the crime were  aggravating factors.

In addition to giving Diakew a life sentence, Beames  also ordered a
lifetime weapons prohibition and that  Diakew must submit a sample of
his DNA.
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