Executive Summary
- Robert Belbin faces sentencing for the second-degree murder of Seamus Secord in St. John’s.
- Victim impact statements detailed significant financial ruin and emotional trauma for Secord’s family.
- The Crown is seeking a 12-year parole ineligibility period, while the defense argues for 10 years.
- Belbin apologized to the family in court, expressing regret for his decisions.
- A final sentencing decision is scheduled for February 27.
The sentencing hearing for Robert Belbin, convicted of second-degree murder in the 2023 stabbing death of Seamus Secord, proceeded on Friday at the Supreme Court in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, marked by the delivery of emotional victim impact statements. The proceedings highlighted the enduring trauma experienced by the victim’s family and witnesses as the court prepares to determine parole eligibility.
Belbin, 24, was found guilty in October regarding the fatal incident that took place on February 7, 2023, outside Secord’s residence on Mayor Avenue. According to court reports, the hearing on Friday focused on the consequences of the crime, with testimony provided by the victim’s mother and a bystander who attempted to intervene.
Cynthia Buchan, the mother of the 22-year-old victim, addressed the courtroom, describing the severe psychological and financial toll the murder has taken on her family. Buchan stated that she has been "suspended in uncertainty and unresolved trauma" for nearly three years. She detailed how the family was evicted from their home after their landlord learned of the murder, forcing them to relocate three hours away from St. John’s. The financial strain of travel and lost stability prevented her from attending the verdict in person, a fact she noted with deep regret. "I miss my baby boy," Buchan told the court, adding that the event has reshaped the fabric of her life.
A statement from Brittany Cochrane, a bystander who stopped to assist Secord as he lay dying, was read into the record by Crown attorney Paul Thistle. Cochrane described the lasting psychological impact of that evening, including flashbacks and anxiety. She characterized the event as altering two young lives forever—one taken and one lost to the consequences of the act.
Following the statements, legal counsel presented arguments regarding the terms of Belbin’s sentence. While a life sentence is mandatory for second-degree murder in Canada, the period of parole ineligibility is discretionary. The Crown argued that Belbin should serve 12 years before becoming eligible for parole, citing the gravity of the offense. Conversely, the defense requested the minimum period of 10 years. Belbin addressed the court directly, offering an apology to the Secord family and expressing regret for his actions on the day of the killing.
Judicial Determination Guidelines
The presiding judge has scheduled the delivery of the sentencing decision for February 27. Under the relevant legal framework, the court must balance the punitive requirements of the justice system with the offender’s potential for rehabilitation. The determination of parole ineligibility is a critical component of the sentencing phase in second-degree murder convictions, often influenced by the nature of the crime and the profound impact on surviving victims and the community.
