The situations of Dellen Millard and Mark Smich

A Hamilton criminal defence lawyer says Dellen Millard and Mark Smich are getting what they deserve.

Both men were found guilty of first degree murder in the death of Laura Babcock. They are already serving life sentences for killing Tim Bosma.

Lawyer Asgar Manek says the men will likely appeal the conviction, but they will most likely spend the majority, if not the rest of their lives behind bars.

In the new year, there will be a sentencing hearing. The judge will have to choose between concurrent or consecutive sentences.

Manek believes the judge will choose consecutive sentences for the men because Bosma and Babcocks murders are unrelated, meaning they would serve 25 years for killing Bosma and an additional 25 for killing Babcock with no chance of parole for 50 years.

Something Babcock’s family would like to see.

“You also know about the evil beings that took her life and if society is lucky, we will not see them again on the streets.” said Clayton Babcock, Laura’s father.

But the judge could choose a concurrent sentence, which would mean both murder sentences for Bosma and Babcock are served at the same time, a total of 25 years before parole.

According to Manek, the convicted murderers are likely to file an appeal after the sentencing hearing.

While Millard hired a lawyer here in Hamilton during the Bosma trial, the convicted killer decided to represent himself in the Babcock trial. Many lawyers say this was a big mistake.

Come spring, Millard will face a third charge of first degree murder. Dellen Millard is accused of killing his father, Wayne Millard, whose death was originally ruled a suicide.

But Manek says, a lawyer won’t do Millard much good for his next trial.

“He may be wasting his money, because even if he is successful he still has to deal with these two convictions for which he will be put away for 25 to 50 years.”

For the Babcock family, no amount time in prison will bring Laura back.

“We’ve sat through a 6 week funeral for our daughter Laura.”

Manek says both Millard and Smich have shown no remorse during these trials, and because of that concurrent sentences become even less likely.

If Millard is found guilty of killing his father in March, a third murder conviction, that would make him a serial killer. Manek says that label isn’t used in the Canadian Justice System, the Canadian equivalent would be a dangerous offender.