Man convicted in Alberta hunters’ deaths appeal denied by Supreme Court

Canada’s highest court has rejected the appeal of one of the two individuals found guilty in the tragic shooting of two Métis hunters in eastern Alberta.

Without providing any specific reasons, the Supreme Court dismissed Anthony Bilodeau’s request to appeal on Thursday.

During the trial, it was revealed that in March 2020, Bilodeau and his father became suspicious of a truck parked near their rural property, leading them to chase down the vehicle and engage in a confrontation.

Bilodeau was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case of Maurice Cardinal and manslaughter in the case of Cardinal’s nephew, Jacob Sansom.

Both Sansom, 39, and Cardinal, 57, had been on a moose hunting trip before being shot and abandoned on the side of the road near Glendon, Alta., a small rural community about 200 kilometers northeast of Edmonton.

Anthony Bilodeau, who discharged the firearm, received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 13 years.

His father, Roger Bilodeau, was found guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of the two hunters and received a 10-year sentence.

During the trial, the defense lawyers for the two individuals claimed that the shooting was an act of self-defense.

The prosecution contended that the father and son took matters into their own hands by pursuing Sansom and Cardinal, believing that the hunters were trying to steal from their family farm.

Roger Bilodeau was granted day parole in May. Recently, the Parole Board of Canada opted to extend his release for three months, deeming the 61-year-old to be at low risk of re-offending.

In its decision dated October 28, the board stated, “Your criminal actions were motivated by a complex interplay of personal beliefs, misinterpretations, and deep-seated frustrations.”

The board recognized Roger Bilodeau’s involvement in faith-based programs while incarcerated and his efforts in working and seeking counseling in the community.

The parole board ordered a panel hearing for full parole for Roger Bilodeau.

Three conditions were imposed on Roger Bilodeau’s day parole, including no contact with the victims’ family, continued therapy sessions, and adherence to a curfew “due to some of the community dynamics that remain present in your case.”