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Barbara Ann Matthews, 38, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest on January 13th, 2007.

Avory Leonard Stamp, 20, and Clinton Allen Thomas, 22, were each charged with first-degree murder.

Matthews remembered | memorial | community reaction
trial and sentencing

Police and ambulance services were called to a home on Township Road 524, just east of Highway 60, at about 8:30 a.m. on January 13th, 2007.

Paramedics found a woman with a single gunshot wound to the upper body who then went into cardiopulmonary arrest.

The woman was revived and transported to Edmonton's Misericordia Hospital where she later died of her injuries.

Stony Plain RCMP and K-Division major crime detectives interviewed witnesses who were at the home at the time of the shooting.

Police said it appeared a social gathering was taking place and alcohol was being consumed when the woman was shot.

Enoch Chief Ron Morin said the RCMP contacted reserve officials later that morning to tell them police are investigating a homicide.

On January 14th, 2007 RCMP announced they were seeking two suspects in connection with the shooting death.

At that time police also released the identity of the victim as 38-year-old Barbara Ann Matthews.

“The two males fled the residence in a red 1996 Chevrolet Blazer bearing Alberta license plate HAE 919,” said a Stony Plain RCMP spokesman.

“Efforts to locate and arrest the two suspects in this case have been unsuccessful.”

The spokesman added enough evidence had been gathered to lay first-degree murder charges against the men and obtain Canada-wide warrants for their arrest.

First-degree murder is distinguished by the elements of premeditation, planning and intent.

Two native men had arrived at the house party but it remained unclear whether they were invited or not.

"They weren’t there very long when the disturbance took place and the shots were fired and the person got hit, and Barb Matthews was fatally wounded," the spokesman said.

"They showed up, the firearms went off and they left," adding Matthews likely knew the accused.

Police also said the two may have handguns with them.

Details about the circumstances of the shooting, the gun used or who was alleged to have pulled the trigger, weren't immediately released.

One suspect turned himself in later in the day, while the other waited two days before doing so – read more »

An autopsy on Matthews' body showed she died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

On January 16th, 2007 the Edmonton Sun published an article that suggested Barbara Ann Matthews might have taken a bullet intended for one of her four teen sons – read more »

Matthews remembered

The victim's nephew, Bill Morin, manager of the North On 60 Gas Bar, said Matthews moved to Alberta from London, Ontario nearly twenty years ago and was adopted into his family.

Morin stated she wasn't from Enoch First Nation. "I'm surprised she was even [at the house] because she doesn't live around here," he said – read more »

However, several Enoch residents who knew Matthews said she lived with her common-law husband, Michael Bruce Bruno, at the house where the shooting happened.

Matthews was the mother of four sons aged 15 to 19 and worked for a housing program on the reserve as a labourer.

Morin said his family was devastated when hearing of the woman's death.

"It's terrible," he said.

"With all the violence happening lately, I knew it was just a matter of time before somebody died, but you never expect it will be someone you know."

Sister-in-law Charlene Morin said, "She was a happy person – always positive."

"It was important to her to show her family what it was to be responsible, and to provide for your family, and the importance of seeing that through."

Work at a construction site where Maythews was employed as a labourer was almost at a standstill.

"All my people are gone right now. They'll probably be gone for a couple of days here with the funeral and stuff," said site superintendent Andy Martell.

"She was part of the family here. She was part of my staff."

The Edmonton Sun contacted Matthews' family in London, Ontario who were still reeling from the news of her murder.

"I know she went through a lot of hell and she didn't deserve to," said her half-brother, 40-year-old Gordon Matthews.

"Barb was a great mom. She had a big heart, she was a cool person, easy to get along with. I'm going to miss her, big time."

Gordon said he had sensed in recent years that Matthews was "trying to get away from something," but didn't know the details. "I know she was trying to make something better for her kids and herself."

Gordon added that Matthews' sons were "good kids" as far as he knew.

Matthews' stepmother, Judy Matthews, said she was still in shock over her stepdaughter's violent death.

"I couldn't believe it," said Judy. "In the time I did know Barbie, she was the nicest person you'd ever want to meet."

Barbara Ann Matthews' father died about four years ago. Her mother Jackie still lives in Ontario.

Memorial

On January 19th, 2007 more than 100 people attended a memorial service Barbara Ann Matthews at Enoch’s Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church – read more »

Community reaction

Enoch Chief Morin – no relation to the victim – said the whole community was hurting after the shooting.

"It's very tragic," he said. "Our prayers go out to the family who has lost their loved one and to those who committed the offence, because they're hurting too."

Morin added prolific drug and substance abuse, violence and premature deaths on the reserve were issues that weighed heavily on him.

"It's frustrating," he said. "We hope the community at large would appreciate the importance of staying away from harmful activities. We need people to make better choices."

The Enoch Cree Nation reserve lies on the western edge of Edmonton. Approximately 1,400 members live on the reserve, with more residing in the city.

Trial and sentencing

On October 3rd, 2008 the two men charged in connection with the shooting death of 38-year-old Barbara Ann Matthews were sentenced after pleading guilty to lesser charges.

Court heard that in the early morning hours of January 13th, 2007 two men, who had been drinking, showed up uninvited at a house party saying they were looking for two girls they thought were inside.

The men were told they were not welcome and that the two women didn't want to come out.

Undaunted, they went to the back of the house and tried to get in through a back deck.

They were confronted by a woman inside the house. Thomas pistol-whipped her with a 9mm handgun, and when Matthews tried to intervene Thomas handed the gun to Stamp and told him to use it.

Stamp then fatally shot Matthews in the chest, and the two men drove off in a car.

Paramedics managed to resuscitate Matthews after she went into cardiac arrest inside an ambulance. She later died at the Misericordia Hospital.

Stamp turned himself in to police a day after the shooting, while Thomas waited three days to do the same.

Tear-filled victim impact statements were heard from those close to Barbara. Her mother and sisters spoke of the "brutal and senseless" act that resulted in their loss.

"It tears my soul that she will never see her four sons again," her mother, Jacqueline Long, said. "I was cheated. Barbara was cheated. The emptiness will never be filled."

Michael Bruno spoke of missing his wife very much and about the pain of their sons, but said he was not interested in revenge as others could end up hurt.

Matthews, who worked for a housing program on the Enoch reserve, was the mother of four teenaged sons.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman then announced his decisions after considering recommendations from the Crown and defence co-counsel in a joint submission presented earlier.

"It's abundantly clear that a fine person was killed that day," Sanderman said.

Avory Leonard Stamp, 21, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Clinton Allen Thomas, 23, was sentenced to 32 months after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.

Both men were given lifetime firearms prohibitions and must submit to a DNA order. The pair were each originally charged with first-degree murder.

Sanderman had agreed with the six-year term recommended for Stamp, but said Thomas' sentence needed to reflect the fact that he was in possession of the gun. Twenty-eight months had been earlier suggested by the Crown and Thomas' lawyer.

"Absent that gun, we would not be here today," Sanderman said.

In his recounting the events of the shooting Sanderman said, "The brave intruders then flee," and he blamed the woman's murder on a deadly combination of "young immature drunks full of false bravado" and a gun.

"A totally innocent person in her own home, minding her own business, dies because of you," Sanderman told the accused, adding that their actions caused "immeasurable pain" to the family of the victim.

Stamp, who offered an apology to Matthews' family and sat with his head bowed throughout the hearing, appeared to show "true contrition," Sanderman said.

However, the justice appeared visibly angered at Thomas for sitting in an "insolent manner."

Sanderman's anger extended to a member of the gallery as he ejected a heavily tattooed man who had earlier been warned by a court sheriff for flashing gang signs towards Matthews' family.

Passing by the prisoner's box on his way out, the smirking man gestured to Thomas to phone him.

Emotions ran high on both sides as the sentences were read out. Relatives of the accused pair cried while the family of the slain woman sobbed.

Later outside court, Barbara's mother and two of her sisters spoke out against the justice system, calling the sentence "unjust" and saying it didn't reflect the seriousness of the crime and the loss of an innocent life.

"Six years for taking a life?" said Matthews' sister Jane Babinsky. "How do you get six years for killing someone in their own home?"

"That's just not enough," she added.

"Stephen Harper needs to step up to the plate because guns are for two people: killers and cops," said Deborah Augustine.

The family had travelled from London, Ontario for the sentencing hearing.

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deadmonton 2007 - barbara ann matthews