The B.C. judge who sentenced three men for kidnapping University of British Columbia student Graham McMynn says he hopes it will send a tough message to Metro Vancouver's gangsters.
On Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Arne Silverman handed down 13 years to purported leader Anh The Nguyen for the kidnapping and unlawful confinement of the millionaire Vancouver businessman's son in 2006.
Jose Hernandez faces 12 years and accomplice Sam Van Vu gets eight.
The three have spent 34 months in custody and each will get double time for time already served, meaning almost six years will be taken off each sentence.
The trio will have to provide DNA samples and face lifetime weapon bans.
Silverman said his sentencing was made in light of the escalating gang violence in British Columbia.
"The concept of general deterrents for this type of offence is greater than it has been in the past due to recent gang violence," he said.
Silverman said he felt Nguyen was higher up on the ladder of command in the kidnap scheme, but he was not the leader. The justice suggested another group may have been in charge.
Speaking to the court, prosecutor Richard Cairns said the April 2006 abduction was clearly a gang operation.
"It's becoming more and more apparent in the Lower Mainland that the fabric of our society is being torn apart by this gang activity," Cairns said.
Vancouver Police lead investigator Les Yeo told CTV News he hoped the sentence would be tougher, but respects the court's decision.
"We think this will send a strong message to the criminal element that this won't be tolerated in British Columbia and we will put every resource into cases like this in the future."
But speaking outside the courthouse, Graham's father, Bob McMynn, said he didn't believe the sentencing would act as a deterrent.
"I still strongly feel the burden of proof is far too stringent on the Crown and the system is more in favour of the criminal than the victim," McMynn said.
"I understand the logic behind double time, but I don't agree with it. I don't think the (sentences) are long enough but I understand the judge is bound by past sentencing...you're bound by precedent."
A terrifying ordeal
McMynn, then 24, was abducted at gunpoint from his car in April of 2006 while he and his fianc�e were driving to university.
The student spent eight terrifying days in captivity -- sometimes stripped and bound -- before police rescued him from a Surrey, B.C. home in a massive operation involving hundreds of officers.
Six people were arrested. Two other young men, including Vu's brother, were acquitted after a lengthy trial last year and one youth is scheduled to go on trial March 2.
During his confinement, McMynn was warned the kidnappers would kill him if no ransom was paid and that if he was released they could come after him and his family.
McMynn, his parents and his fianc�e Jacklin Tran all submitted victim-impact statements saying the kidnapping had left them fearful, less trusting of others and strained family relationships.
"No person should be forced into a situation where they don't know if they will live or die," McMynn, who now lives in the United States with Tran, said in his statement.
With files from The Canadian Press
