Warning: This article contains details that may be disturbing and triggering to readers. A Penetanguishene, Ont. woman who admitted to leading her friend into a deadly ambush, and helping the men responsible escape, has now been sentenced. Danika Lawrie, 33, will be spending the next 18 months behind bars after being handed a 39-month sentence for luring her friend Jesse Deschamps to a parking where he was shot in the head. RELATED: Lawrie pleads guilty to accessory after-the-fact in Barrie courtroom Lawrie admitted to driving three men to the plaza along Poyntz Street on the afternoon of July 27, 2023, where she told Deschamps to meet her so she could buy cocaine off of him. Lawrie admitted she knew Deschamps was going to get hurt that day because of a longstanding ‘beef’ with other drug dealers. The court heard last month, when Lawrie pleaded guilty to being an accessory after-the-fact to murder, that she knew drug dealers wanted to lure Deschamps so they could confront and beat him up. RELATED: Homicide investigation underway after shooting at Penetanguishene mall While paying Deschamps for the drugs, one of her passengers got out of her truck, pulled out a gun and killed Deschamps before she drove them away. In her decision, Justice Lynne Saunders called Lawrie’s actions “shocking, appalling and horrific,” describing her moral culpability as very grave as Lawrie inexplicably put her friend in harm’s way. She admitted to driving the men to a home in Tiny Township then left the home on foot. The next day the pickup truck they were in was found torched along train tracks near Horseshoe Valley Road and Warminster Side Road. Police later released a sketch of a person believed to be involved in the shooting. RELATED: First-degree murder charges laid in 2023 shooting in Penetanguishene, Ont. Lawrie was arrested a year ago and initially charged with first-degree murder. To date, she is the only person arrested or charged in the case. Justice Saunders said while Lawrie may not have pulled the trigger that day, she gave safe passage to the person who did before callously leaving her friend to die alone in his car as she drove away with those responsible for killing him. Lawrie’s lawyer said she is remorseful for her decision making and that her judgement was severely impact by her addiction at the time. The defence said Lawrie has been participating in counselling and drug treatment courses while in jail. Deschamps was described by his family as a loving partner and father of four whose death has left them shaken, as they seek justice. Following her release from custody, Lawrie will be placed on probation for two years and is banned from communicating with Deschamps’ loved ones.
