Man who murdered girlfriend gets reduced sentence partly due to his race

A man who stabbed his girlfriend to death at a shopping centre in British Columbia received a lighter sentence partly because of his race.

Everton Javaun Downey, 35, stabbed his girlfriend, Melissa Blimkie, 15 times in a stairwell at the Metrotown Shopping Centre in Burnaby on Dec. 19, 2021. Downey fled the scene with the murder weapon before later turning himself in to police.

Downey was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced last month to life in prison. The Crown was seeking no chance for parole for at least 15 years, but B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes went with 12 years after reviewing Downey’s Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA). ---More...

When sentencing for crimes in Canada is determined by skin color there’s a big problem. And if anyone’s paying attention, this is happening at an alarming rate within our judicial system. pic.twitter.com/81Z4x9Wr6E

— Ryan Gerritsen???????????????? (@ryangerritsen)March 12, 2026

When sentencing for crimes in Canada is determined by skin color there’s a big problem. And if anyone’s paying attention, this is happening at an alarming rate within our judicial system.