Anwar Kamaran sentenced to 240 days for gas station assault

The Crown had asked for a full five-kilometre banishment order from the Shoesmiths home and business for Kamaran.

The family is disappointed that it was not granted and remains concerned about Kamaran and what he could do next.

“We are still in fear of our lives. I don’t trust him, he’s breached so many times,” Carol Shoemsith said outside court after sentencing. “He has no respect and no regard for the laws as far as I’m concerned. A two-year probation, hopefully he’ll get some help or obey this time but time will tell.”

The details of the no-go, no-contact order are still to be determined. The judge asked Crown and defence counsel to provide information about where the gas stations and residences of Kamaran and victims are in relation to each other before the order is established.

Judge Gordon Krinke was clear about what the order means for Kamaran.

“You can’t have any contact with the Shoesmiths,” the judge told him, adding he can’t go near the family’s home or business.

The Crown asked for a nine-month sentence, two years probation and a five-kilometre banishment zone around the Shoesmiths’ business and home.

The defence asked for a five-month sentence and argued against the banishment zone.

Judge Krinke came down in the middle of the two at about eight months in custody.

The Shoesmiths said they hoped Kamaran would be sentenced to the full nine months.

“But that’s not going to happen,” said Carol. “He’s probably going to be out in the next 24 days so we’ll have to prepare ourselves for him being back in Walsh.”

Prior to hearing the sentence, Kamaran addressed the court. He apologized for what took place and hopes the Walsh community will open their arms to he and his family and everyone can move on.

The Shoesmith family – Geoff, Carol and David – owns and operates the Trailside Tempo service station in Walsh, about 60 kilometres east of Medicine Hat on Highway 1. The neighbouring Save On Gas station is owned by Kamaran.

The gas price war began in March of 2020. It escalated over a period of a few months before coming to a head in August of that year.

Kamaran can be seen in security footage from Aug. 9 getting out of his vehicle, entering Trailside Tempo and punching Geoff Shoesmith into unconsciousness. That same day he also went to the Shoesmiths’ residence and assaulted David. Those incidents took place hours after Kamaran was released from custody for a previous assault incident involving Carol, charges for which were later dropped.

Kamaran entered guilty pleas on June 22, and agreed statements of fact were read into court. One was regarding a pair of assaults on Aug. 9, 2020, the other for threats made online this past January.

On June 22, victim impact statements were read into court, one by Carol Shoesmith and the other by Crown prosecutor Jase Cowan on behalf of Geoff.

Carol said she has been diagnosed with high alert PTSD and depression and that she has trouble going out, knowing that Kamaran is allowed in Walsh.

In his statement, Geoff said that Kamaran threatened the family and carried out those threats and the family fears worse could happen.

“We fear him murdering us and assaulting us again.”

by Chris Brown

Anwar Kamaran sentenced to 240 days for gas station assault

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