Calgary man convicted in five-year-old grandson’s death to be sentenced

Queen’s Bench Justice Richard Neufeld was shown photos of bruises and scars, in various stages of healing, all over Emilio’s body.

The Crown has proposed a prison sentence of 12 to 15 years, while the defence says six to eight years would be more appropriate.

Prosecutor Vicki Faulkner told court that Perdomo Lopez deserves a harsh sentence because he was in a position of trust over Emilio, a vulnerable and isolated little boy.

She also said the offender has expressed no remorse, except for the consequences to himself, and referred to the boy as a demon who needed to be cleansed from the house.

Defence lawyer Darren Mahoney agreed a stiff punishment is in order, but that six to eight years would be enough to send a message of denunciation and deterrence.

He urged the judge to focus on a single blow that caused Emilio’s death, because it was not proven in court that his client was solely responsible for past abuse.

A victim impact statement from the boy’s grandmother, with whom Emilio lived in Mexico before he was sent to Canada, was read at a sentencing hearing earlier this week.

In it, Marisol Segovia-Alvarez described a friendly and happy boy who loved music and wanted to buy his mother a house.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2019.

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Calgary man convicted in five-year-old grandson’s death to be sentenced

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