B.C. man sentenced to 12 years for 2017 death of Chelsey Gauthier

Gary Donald Losch, 70, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the 2017 killing of Chelsey Gauthier.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice S. Dev Dley handed down the sentence in an Abbotsford court on Thursday.

Losch received 10 years for manslaughter and two years for indignity to human remains, to be served consecutively, and three-and-a-half years' credit for time already served.

Gauthier's family and friends shed tears and embraced each other outside the courthouse following the sentence.

"I feel like it wasn't as strong as it should've been," said Jayden Silvester, a close friend of Gauthier's.

Losch was originally charged with second-degree murder, but was convicted in July for the lesser charge of manslaughter and indignity to human remains.

Losch made a statement to the court, apologizing for what he did and calling it a horrible accident.

"I feel like there was way too much leniency for what I feel is complete, fake remorse, at the very end to try to save himself," said Silvester.

The court found Losch killed and buried 22-year-old Gauthier on his marijuana grow-op in Mission, B.C., where she received payment and weed for helping him with the operation.

Losch initially did not take responsibility for Gauthier's death, but he began to weep when victim impact statements were read at a previous hearing.

Dley, during his ruling, said that "Mr. Losch's acceptance of responsibility for what he has done, in recognition of the harm that he has done is an important feature of this hearing. Genuine remorse is a mitigating factor."

Dley said the aggravating factors include Losch's position of trust with Gauthier, who needed Losch to drive her to the grow-op site. Gauthier was also Indigenous — another factor.

The judge said Losch also did not try to call for medical aid for Gauthier after stabbing her in the back, and he later tried to cover up his involvement in the crime.

Losch asked for report on Indigenous ancestry

On Dec. 3, sentencing hearings were paused after Losch chose to exert his rights to obtain a report based on claims of his Indigenous heritage.

According to the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, judges have a duty to review Gladue reports, which outline systemic or background factors that may have contributed to bringing a person before the court.

On Thursday, Dley said his claims were not contested or denied, but they were unable to be substantiated by further reviews.

"A life is gone, that can never come back. There's no justice, per se, in that — no one can ever bring her back," said Kasadee York, Gauthier's friend.

Gauthier was reported missing to the Abbotsford Police Department by her family on July 30, 2017.

Just over two weeks later, her body was discovered near Sylvester Road and Dale Road northeast of Mission, about 70 kilometres east of Vancouver.

"I hope that a lot of us and our community can feel some peace and overall just feel that she did get some justice from the legal system," said York.