Edmonton first-degree murder trial ends with two guilty pleas to lesser charges

A murder trial for two people accused in the death of an Edmonton senior ended early last month with guilty pleas to lesser charges.

Donn Gauthier, 46, and Melissa Norris, 38, were set to go to trial together for first-degree murder, arson and indignity to a body. 

Both were accused in the killing of Ronald Bell, who was found dead in his Central McDougall basement suite on New Year's Day of 2023.

Bell — who has been previously described in court as 70 years old when he died, but was actually 72, according to the Crown — was severely injured, and there was evidence of an attempt to start a fire inside the home.

Norris entered a plea to the indignity charge on the first day of the trial on March 17, leaving Gauthier on his own in front of a jury. But at the end of the first week of witnesses, after evidence from a medical examiner raised questions about Bell's fatal injuries, the Crown and defence negotiated an agreement.

As another week of evidence was supposed to begin, the jury was abruptly discharged, and Gauthier pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

All other charges the pair faced were withdrawn. Both were sentenced in separate joint submissions from the Crown and defence.

On March 25, Court of King's Bench Justice Bob Aloneissi sentenced Gauthier to 17 years in prison, which comes to slightly more than 14 years after enhanced credit for time Gauthier has already spent in custody.

On Monday, Norris was sentenced by a different judge to 12 months in jail, which is covered by the time she's already served, plus an 18-month period of probation.

Assault came after argument

Gauthier admitted he actively participated in a violent assault on Bell where a "sharp weapon" was used.

Prosecutor Keith Nicholls told the court during sentencing that there were risks for both sides, but, "The Crown was probably not going to prove its case. The evidence is what the evidence is."

The facts remain "egregious," he said.

"There are virtually wounds to every portion of Mr. Bell's body. ... It's a level of violence that is rarely seen, even in these courts where horrific things are routinely seen."

According to an agreed statement of facts read, Gauthier went to Bell's home on Dec. 26, 2022, after Norris invited him. Neither of them lived there, but Norris was visiting a different man who rented a room on the main floor.

After partying together, Gauthier awoke the next morning to the sound of Norris and Bell arguing. Court heard that Bell, who lived in the basement as the primary tenant of the home, had given notice to evict the man Norris was visiting "due to drug use and inviting undesirable guests."

Gauthier ended up involved in the dispute, and Bell was fatally assaulted. His body was then covered in towels and blankets and lit on fire, and the group went to another nearby home and burned their clothes in the backyard.

In the agreed facts read for Norris's guilty plea, she admitted that she retrieved a bottle of bleach, which the court heard that Gauthier poured on the body and set on fire.

The fire caused some damage to the home but ultimately extinguished itself. The Crown said it was an attempt to burn the house down so there wasn't any evidence of the crime.

One of Bell's friends discovered his body five days later, amid fire damage and a burst water pipe leaking into the basement around his body.

Edmonton police subsequently appealed for help to find Bell's missing truck and information about possible suspects in the case. Gauthier was arrested in July 2023, and Norris was charged in May 2024.

'I hope you can break this cycle'

At Norris's sentencing hearing, defence lawyer Susan Morris said her client has been homeless or couch surfing for much of her adult life.

Court of King's Bench Justice Kent Teskey noted that's part of the "complicated" situation that led her into the court system, ordering that she receive help applying for housing and other supports as part of her probation.

Gauthier's laywer Andrew Phypers told the court that leading up to the fatal assault, Gauthier was "spiralling" in a sustained drug binge.

"That led him into bad company and the very poor decisions that led him here today," he said.

Aloneissi noted a "highly concerning" amount of violence in Gauthier's record.

"This was a prolonged and savage attack ... against a vulnerable person in his own home," he said.

But the judge also noted the history of abuse and racism that Gauthier, who is Métis, reported to the court.

"I hope you can break this cycle of intergenerational trauma which you have clearly experienced," Aloneissi told him.

A first-degree murder conviction would have meant an automatic life sentence and a 25-year period of parole ineligibility.