Gunman takes plea deal in fatal shooting outside city bar By: Dean Pritchard Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Monday, May. 11, 2020 Last Modified: 8:56 PM CDT Monday, May. 11, 2020 Updates

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HE was set to stand trial last month for first-degree murder for a fatal shooting outside a crowded Corydon Avenue bar.

But in a plea bargain directly connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric Boyle pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of second-degree murder and was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.

Boyle’s guilty plea to the reduced charge means he will be able to apply for parole eight years earlier than if he had been convicted of first-degree murder.

Noel Talingdan, 37, was fatally shot outside Bar Italia on May 29, 2018.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the adjournment of many Queen’s Bench trials. Earlier this month, the court announced trials already scheduled between May 26 and June 30 will now proceed as planned.

At an adjournment motion last month, court heard it would be at least September before Boyle’s trial could be rescheduled.

Lawyers for both the Crown and defence expressed concern about rescheduling the trial and co-ordinating travel for multiple witnesses when the end time of the pandemic remains a question mark.

“Usually a plea bargain is motivated by the strength of the Crown’s case related to the quality of the evidence,” Queen’s Bench Justice Shaun Greenberg said. “In this case, it is motivated by the COVID pandemic.”

“The difficulties with proceeding as scheduled compelled the plea agreement,” Greenberg said. “I am satisfied that the unusual circumstances here gave rise to a true plea bargain and that the joint recommendation is appropriate.”

According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court, Boyle had a drug “beef” with Talingdan and after meeting him at Bar Italia, texted both his girlfriend and co-accused Joshua Turner to bring him a gun.

Video surveillance at the bar showed Boyle approaching Talingdan, shaking his hand and laughing.

“The video footage showed Boyle and Talingdan interacting in what seemed to be a friendly encounter,” Greenberg said.

But Boyle was clearly enraged, according to a witness who arrived with Turner in a jeep outside the bar a half-hour later, telling investigators Boyle said “nobody does that to me,” and that he was going to “kill these guys.”

Turner brought Boyle a long gun, which he rejected, instead taking a handgun from his girlfriend when she arrived a short time later.

The outdoor patio was crowded with customers as Boyle took position in the laneway behind the bar and opened fire on Talingdan and a 28-year-old woman as they returned from closing a drug deal. Talingdan was killed and the woman was shot in the leg.

Boyle has prior convictions for robbery and assault and was prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of the killing.

Greenberg emphasized Boyle is still subject to a life sentence, with no guarantee he will win his release after 17 years.

“Mr. Boyle will get the benefit of being able to apply for parole earlier, but his acceptance of responsibility brings with it the same life sentence (as a first-degree murder conviction),” Greenberg said.

“The devastating impact… on the victims and their families cannot be overstated, nor can the fact that Mr. Boyle’s anger led him to not only destroy these lives, but also put so many other lives at risk,” she said.

Turner has pleaded guilty as a party to discharging a firearm with intent and is awaiting sentencing.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca

Dean Pritchard
Courts reporter

Someone once said a journalist is just a reporter in a good suit. Dean Pritchard doesn’t own a good suit. But he knows a good lawsuit.

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