Man who threw stones at PM Trudeau in 2021 to be sentenced next week

Court appearance for man who threw stones at PM Shane Marshall, who pleaded guilty to throwing stones at Justin Trudeau in 2021, will be sentenced next week. Nick Paparella explains.

A decision in the sentencing of the man who assaulted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2021 is now expected next week, with the defence requesting a suspended sentence and the Crown calling for jail time.

Defence lawyer Luke Reidy told the court Monday that Shane Marshall, 26, has no prior criminal record and that his actions during the federal election campaign stop and PPC protest in east London in September of 2021 were not pre-meditated.

“The act of throwing stones was impulsive,” said Reidy. “Shane Marshall understands what he did was wrong.”

Originally charged with assault with a weapon, Marshall pleaded guilty in March to the lesser charge of assault, after throwing gravel at Trudeau.

Reidy added that a suspended sentence would allow time for Marshall to attend counselling for impulse control and anger management.

He added that his client has been diagnosed with ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

However Crown Attorney Jeremy Carnegie said that Marshall deserves jail time and should be locked up for 30 days.

“This type of violence must be deterred and denounced, this is an assault on our democracy,” said Carnegie. “The court shouldn’t care about politics, what we are here for are Mr. Marshall’s actions.”

Carnegie continued, “[Marshall] got so caught up in the event his decision was to arm himself with a handful of gravel.”

When given time to address the court, Marshall was brief but said he was sorry, “I would like to apologize for my actions.”

When leaving the London courthouse, Marshall yelled, “Canada first.”

Justice Kevin McHugh will hand down his decision on the matter on May 8.