A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the horrific death of a St. Albert man in 2008 was released on day parole earlier this month.
Mark James Horning, who pleaded guilty in May 2008 to manslaughter for his role in the death of St. Albert teen Timothy Salsman, will be required to live in a halfway house, but will be allowed to leave during the day.
Horning was initially sentenced to 11 years for his part in Salsman’s death. The teen was killed in 2004 over a $1,500 drug debt. But after receiving double credit for the three and a half years he spent in custody prior to entering his guilty plea, Horning was left with four years to serve.
Horning was one of two men accused of killing Salsman near Provost.
William Edgar Taylor was tried and found guilty of second-degree murder in 2007 and was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 18 years.
Horning, Taylor and Salsman were all staying together in the small community, and on the night Salsman was murdered, all three had gone to the local bar.
Salsman worked for Horning in the drug trade and, according to parole documents, police believe Horning was a high-ranking member of a street gang.
At the bar, Horning and Taylor repeatedly beat Salsman until he was nearly unconscious before loading him into a pickup truck and driving back to their rural property.
Salsman had been using some of the drugs he had been given to sell and reportedly owed $1,500.
While at Horning’s house the beating continued. During his plea Horning said he didn’t assault Salsman after returning from the bar, a point the Crown disputed, but it was accepted as immaterial to the overall plea.
Horning eventually left Salsman in the home’s basement with Taylor, who attacked the young man with a skill saw.
At the sentencing in 2008, Justice Sterling Sanderman said he was appalled by the crime, especially the grotesque end over so little money.
“Mr. Taylor has been sentenced to life. You have lost three and half years already and you will be going to a penitentiary today, all over 1,500 measly dollars.”
Sanderman stepped outside the sentence the Crown and defence proposed, adding an additional six months.
In their written decision to grant Horning day parole, board members noted his behaviour before he was sentenced had been very concerning, but once he pleaded guilty his attitude appeared to turn around.
They identified the preliminary hearing as a significant turning point in Horning’s attitude.
“You started to question yourself and your life after your preliminary hearing when you saw the devastation experienced by your victim’s family.”
He appeared to distance himself from known gang members and worked on dealing with his numerous issues.
The report said guards stopped Horning’s father from entering the prison after a drug dog was alerted to him. They found $30,000 and a small amount of narcotics and ammunition, but the board said there was no indication Horning had attempted to introduce anything into the prison.
They also noted Horning had cut off ties with his father.
The board also noted Horning had taken responsibility for the crime, which is considered an important step for parole.
“The board concludes that you claim full responsibility although it is evident you had in fact blacked out during parts of the evening.”
While on parole Horning will have to abstain completely from alcohol and avoid contact with anyone involved in criminal activity.
