Man gets 8 years for role in beating death

Darrin Thomas Amond was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for the unprovoked beating death of a man he'd never met.

Marcus Tremaine Deveaux, 37, was beaten to death in the city's southeast for not being able to provide his attackers, Amond and Richard Ceaser, with a cigarette in February 2010.

Deveaux’s family flew in from around the country to be at Amond’s sentencing. Ceaser already pleaded guilty for his part in the beating and received a lifetime sentence.

“I'm a little disappointed that [Amond’s] sentence seems light, in light of the fact that Marc lost his life,” said Linda Deveaux, the victim’s mother.

Deveaux’s mother also praised the work of Calgary police and the Crown.

At the time police described the attack as random, unprovoked and brutal. Deveaux did not know his attackers.

"The nature of the injuries that the victim sustained would not allow us to do a physical identification. Therefore we're going to be relying on dental and medical records," said acting Staff Sgt. Rick Tuza at the time.

Deveaux was found unconscious in an Inglewood snow bank by a passerby in the area of 22nd Avenue and 17th Street S.E. on Feb. 8, 2010.

He was taken to hospital, but died a short time later.

Amond received eight years for the manslaughter charge, minus double-time for time served, which works out to four years, eight months.

He is also required to give a DNA sample and is subject to a lifetime weapons ban.

Deveaux’s stepfather Don Hurd said the family didn't feel Amond was any less guilty than Ceaser.

“He was 30 years old, Ceaser was 20 years old. What kind of coward can’t stop a man, from killing another man in that situation?”

Deveaux said she’s glad the ordeal is over.

"You're not going to lose your son and [have it] not be tough.”