An Ontario killer ordered deported to St. Vincent in 2020 has been sentenced to six years in a Canadian prison after he was caught soon after he got out of custody for a manslaughter conviction with a Glock semi-automatic handgun in his Toronto nightstand that was equipped with a laser sight and loaded with seven rounds of .40 calibre ammunition.
Police also allegedly found other items in Christopher Enrique Gordon’s bedroom during their September 2022 search, including about $6,000 in cash, 18.56 grams of fentanyl, 10.13 grams of cocaine and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
“It is extremely troubling that both the previous manslaughter offence and the current firearm offences had some connection to drug trafficking. The close temporal connection between the offences exacerbates that concern. Moreover, it is well known that the combination of drug trafficking and a gun frequently leads to tragic results,” Justice Benita Wassenaar wrote in a recent decision from Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice.
“In addition to that unfortunate combination, the serious — and sometimes deadly — impact of fentanyl is something I must consider.”
The “aggravating factors” in Gordon’s case push his crimes to the higher end of the sentencing range, said the judge, “particularly those factors that speak to the normative wrongfulness of the conduct and the harm posed by it.”
Having said that, Wassenaar notes, “meaningful consideration must be given to the mitigating factors, in particular Mr. Gordon’s guilty plea, the conditions he has experienced in custody, his disadvantaged background, and his experiences with anti-Black racism.”
Evidence indicates that Gordon’s “choices were limited and influenced by his disadvantaged circumstances, which are relevant to assessing his moral responsibility,” the judge wrote in her decision, dated Nov. 17.
“I also remind myself of the principle of restraint and its applicability in the context of this offender.”
Gordon pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm without a licence, and possessing a firearm while he was under a December 2019 court-ordered lifetime gun prohibition. In turn, the drug charges were dropped.
The prosecution “sought a total sentence of eight years,” for Gordon, said the decision.
“The Crown highlighted, in particular, Mr. Gordon’s manslaughter conviction and ongoing involvement with drugs,” it said. “The Crown relied on the fentanyl and cocaine as significant aggravating factors. Moreover, Mr. Gordon re-offended within a year of his release from prison after serving his manslaughter sentence.”
The Crown “noted that the firearm was in an unlocked nightstand of an unlocked bedroom and there were several children in the house,” said the decision.
Gordon’s lawyer argued unsuccessfully for time served.
“She noted that there was no evidence that Mr. Gordon had used, wielded or threatened anyone with the firearm,” said the decision.
“She also outlined the facts underlying the manslaughter conviction, which she said included the victim perpetrating violence on Mr. Gordon.”
His defence lawyer initially stated “that Mr. Gordon was going to be deported, regardless of the sentence he received (for the gun crimes), and that it was humane to permit him to go home as soon as possible so that he could try to build a life in St. Vincent,” said the decision.
The court heard from the Canada Border Services Agency that once Gordon’s “legal matters are concluded, he will be deported back to St. Vincent.”
The agency “has already applied for a travel document for him, and … they will be monitoring the outcome of his court matters,” said the decision.
But “at the end of her submissions,” Gordon’s lawyer told the court he “had retained an immigration lawyer and if he is sentenced to time served up to six months he is entitled to a pre-removal risk assessment and there is a possibility that immigration would consider it.”
A pre-removal risk assessment would be Gordon’s last-ditch bid to stay in Canada.
Gordon was convicted of manslaughter in December 2019, for stabbing 54-year David Blacquiere of Angus, Ont., in the chest several times in a Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot, near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West in Toronto, on Nov. 15., 2018.
“On December 9, 2020, he was sentenced to six years and nine months jail. After deducting credit for pre-sentence custody, he had 586 days left to serve.”
Gordon, who recently turned 26, was born in St. Vincent, said the recent sentencing decision.
“His father had minimal involvement in his upbringing. When Mr. Gordon was seven, his mother left his father and went to Canada in an effort to improve her family’s financial situation,” it said.
“Mr. Gordon stayed behind and was looked after by various relatives. Mr. Gordon’s mother brought him to Canada for a visit when he was eight. After seeing that he had not been well cared for, she kept him with her in Canada. However, Mr. Gordon never became a Canadian citizen.”
Gordon’s “family history, lack of citizenship and socio-economic status have intersected with anti-Black racism to compound disadvantage and exacerbate the many challenges he has faced,” said the decision. “He has experienced racism in various contexts, including at school, through police harassment and while incarcerated.”
Gordon was given the opportunity to apply for status in Canada after he was ordered deported for manslaughter, it said, though the decision does not indicate whether he tried that route to stay here.
Wassenaar said she “considered potential immigration consequences,” her sentence for gun crimes might have on Gordon.
“It seems rather speculative to suggest that the sentence I impose could have additional immigration consequences,” said the judge.
“In any event, the risk of deportation cannot justify imposing a sentence that is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of proportionality.”
Wassenaar sentenced Gordon to six years behind bars. With enhanced credit for time served, he only has one year and three months left in the sentence.
“To that I would add two years of probation,” said the judge.
