Killers who 'hunted down' Trevor Lomond before beating him to death get 5½-year sentences

Three killers who "hunted down" their victim, kidnapping Trevor Lomond and taking him to a home where they beat him to death, have been sentenced to 5½ years in prison.

Originally charged with first-degree murder, Mahad Dirir, 32, Abdulrizak Jeyte, 31, and Ahmed Farah, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week.

• Video released of beating, kidnapping as 3 plead guilty to lesser charge in Calgary man's death

Once he was abducted, Lomond was taken to a home where he was beaten unconscious three times. On the third time, Lomond "never came back," Jeyte told a friend, according to the agreed statement of facts. 

On Tuesday, provincial court Judge Frank Maloney imposed a 5½ -year sentence on the killers but took four months off Farah's term because he is a first time offender. 

All three will get 19½ months credit for the time they've already served. 

According to Dirir's lawyer, Allan Fay, the victim and the killers were involved in a cheque cashing scheme. Fay said Lomond was suspected of withholding money from the trio but the judge still noted: "Absent is an explanation for this crime."

On Sept. 13, 2016, surveillance video from a nearby home caught Lomond being confronted by the killers outside a friend's home. The video shows the victim trying to run away before Jeyte and Dirir attacked him and demanded money.

​Lomond can be seen being kicked in the head before being forced into a car, which then drove off.

WARNING: Graphic court evidence released

7 years ago

Duration 1:04

After three killers pleaded guilty in the death of Trevor Lomond, a Calgary judge released video of the initial attack and kidnapping. Read more: www.cbc.ca/1.4552423

Dirir, Jeyte and Farah then took the victim to a home in the southwest community of Rosscarrock around 6:30 p.m. 

Just 40 minutes after the kidnapping, Farah used Lomond's bankcard.

Four hours later, police responded to a 911 call reporting an unconscious man.

First responders found Lomond in the basement, a pool of blood around his head, with injuries to his mouth and eyes. He was unresponsive and his breathing was laboured. 

Mother offered forgiveness

Despite emergency surgery to relieve brain bleeding and swelling, Lomond died a week later from injuries to his head and neck.

The judge noted Lomond's family wrote "heartfelt and emotional" victim impact statements. Sherry Duperre wrote about the "overwhelming sense of hopelessness" as she watched her son take his last breaths.

Still, Duperre "offered her forgiveness in spite of her loss," said Maloney.

Crown prosecutors Ken McCaffrey and Kane Richards made the plea deal with defence lawyers Kelsey Sitar, Allan Fay and Adriano Iovinelli before the trial.

Last month, prosecutors stayed the murder charge against Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan, 31.