Sault Ste. Marie police chief slams prosecutors, demands review in murder plea deal

Up North5:11Two year sentence for men found guilty of killing Sault Ste Marie's Wes Hallam

There was outrage in a Sault Ste Marie courtroom as three men who pleaded guilty to manslaughter were sentenced to less than two years in prison each for the grizzly killing of Wes Hallam. Chief of police Robert Keetch gave his thoughts on the verdict.

The chief of police of a northern Ontario city has slammed prosecutors and demanded a review after three men pleaded guilty to lesser charges for a grisly homicide in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in which a man was stabbed to death, decapitated and dismembered at a house party.

Police Chief Robert Keetch says he was disappointed with Thursday's outcome in the death of Wesley Hallam, who was stabbed to death on Jan. 7, 2011, and he has asked the Ministry of the Attorney General for an independent third-party review of the case.

On Thursday, Ronald Mitchell, Dylan Jocko and Eric Mearow pleaded guilty to manslaughter and offering an indignity to a human body after police brought forward a comprehensive case with first-degree murder charges.

Keetch says the result of the Crown's deal doesn't reflect the work done by police on the case or in general within the city, trying to reassure an agitated public that resulted in more than 100 protesters showing up at the courthouse.

The victim's mother, Sandra Hallam, says she is devastated and outraged with the outcome.

Because of time already served, all three men will spend two years or less behind bars.