The Vancouver man convicted in series of stabbings in March 2017 has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Bradley Michael Mazerolle, 36, was convicted earlier this year of three counts of aggravated assault in a series of random attacks that took place within a seven-block radius between West Broadway and Cambie Street and Main Street and Second Avenue on the morning of March 2, 2017.
The first victim, Keenan Moore, who worked as a delivery driver, was stabbed shortly after leaving the ATM vestibule at Coast Capital Savings. Moore was walking west on West Broadway when Mazerolle approached him from behind and stabbed him on the top of his head. Moore brought his hand up to protect himself and was stabbed in the hand, nearly severing one of his fingers.
Mazerolle then continued west to Quebec Street where he encountered the second victim, David Allardice, rushing him from behind. Allardice tried to move out of the way but was stabbed once in the head. He also received a cut on his neck.
Mazerolle then made his way to Main Street and started walking north. The third victim, identified only as E.K., was getting off a bus when Mazerolle walked by. He was stabbed twice in the neck at the base of his skull, fracturing one of his vertebrae and dissecting his vertebral artery. E.K. spent seven days in hospital and suffered a stroke nearly a week after he was discharged.
With help from a witness, police caught up with Mazerolle just before 9 a.m. in an alley on Quebec and East Second.
Moore was the only victim to provide a victim impact statement and address the court.
“I am satisfied that the assault has a profound physical and emotional impact on him,” judge R.P. Harris said in handing down the sentence.
“Mr. Moore has not worked since the assault, and he describes the assault as having destroyed everything that he worked for. Mr. Moore reports that he can no longer provide for his family, that he is afraid to go outside, [and] that he suffers from anxiety and an inability to sleep.”
Mazerolle was born in New Brunswick where he was raised by his mother and stepfather. According to court documents, he completed high school as well as some post-secondary education before spending three years working on oil rigs but quit because he didn’t like the work. After that he sporadically worked for temporary labour companies but has been homeless for years.
He has several previous convictions, including assault with a weapon and assaulting a police officer, and has previously spent time in prison.
The judge writes that Mazerolle has a “puzzling psychiatric history,” noting that he has no clear diagnosis but one doctor that assessed him said “he may have a psychotic disorder.”
The Crown was seeking a sentence in the range of eight to 10 years, while Mazerolle’s lawyer argued in favour of five years, less the time he has already served — he has already been in custody for more than two years.
In his sentencing last week, the judge decided on a sentence of seven years in prison. Minus credit for time already served, Mazerolle’s remaining sentence is three years and one month.
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
