Sentencing for man convicted of 'senseless' fatal stabbing in downtown Barrie

Steven ‘Stubbs’ Martel has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the unlawful killing of Ron Brennan Peterson, 47, outside a downtown Barrie church.

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Justice Michelle Fuerst called Martel’s killing of Peterson “senseless,” adding Martel showed “neither concern nor appreciation of the gravity of his own actions.”

Fuerst called Martel’s prior criminal record “appalling,” saying he killed Peterson while on two probation orders and weapons bans as he trafficked fentanyl in Barrie.

The court later heard victim impact statements from Peterson’s family expressing anger over the death of the man they called a dedicated father and grandfather who was the family’s provider and protector.

Ron Peterson died of a single stab wound in downtown Barrie, Ont., on Feb. 20, 2023. (Source: Facebook)

Peterson, the court heard, died of a single stab wound.

It was revealed Martel was cutting drugs and became enraged with Peterson for knocking over a bottle of pills on the street as he was heading to the breakfast program being offered at Trinity Anglican United Church.

His defence lawyer, Laurie Galway, said Martel stabbed Peterson following a “perceived wrong” when the drugs were spilled.

Peterson ran from his attackers and later collapsed inside a nearby diner.

The courtroom learned of Martel’s long history of addiction to alcohol and drugs, his diagnosis of schizophrenia, and how he was living on the street selling drugs.

Martel addressed the court, turning specifically to Peterson’s family, saying, “I don’t want to make any excuses. I am sorry for what happened, and I didn’t mean to cause this tragedy.”

The Crown subsequently withdrew charges of second-degree murder against Martel and his co-accused, Jordan Szyperski, walked out of the courthouse a free man alongside lawyer Richard Stern.

"I obviously apologize for anything that was my part in it. I never wanted anything, anyone to get hurt," Szyperski said.

 

Peterson’s family remains upset by Martel’s guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Martel is scheduled to be released in four years and three months.