Erika Sherk
Northern News Services
Friday, February 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The man involved in a 10-and-a-half hour standoff on Cinnamon Court last October was sentenced last Friday.

Lawrence Kennedy pleaded guilty to two of four charges after police talked him into standing down and took him into custody.

Kennedy, 28, was charged with aggravated assault and possession of cocaine when he surrendered after the day-long standoff, which began after RCMP identified him as a suspect in a stabbing that had taken place earlier that day. There were no charges directly related to the standoff.

After his Oct. 17 arrest, Kennedy was charged with armed robbery in connection to the theft of $680 from Linh's Convenience store on Range Lake Road. Oct. 14.

Kennedy was sentenced to 16 months in jail for the armed robbery charge and three months for the possession of cocaine. RCMP found five grams of cocaine on his person when they arrested him, according to Crown attorney Maureen McGuire.

He was also ordered to serve two-years probation following his jail time and attend counseling for cocaine abuse.

The aggravated assault charge, which is in connection to a stabbing the morning of the standoff with police, is set for a preliminary inquiry on April 4.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to robbing Linh's convenience store with a knife Oct 14.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Kennedy went into the convenience store around 6 p.m., wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up around his face. He was also wearing a black ski mask.

Court was also told he put a Twinkie on the counter and when the 16-year-old cashier went to ring it through, Kennedy pulled a knife, held it to the youth's chest and told him to open the till.

According to the document, Kennedy then left the store with $680.

When RCMP arrived, $20 bills were discovered on the ground inside and outside the store, located beside the Monkey Tree Gas Bar on Range Lake Road.

RCMP officers also found a black-handled Wiltshire brand kitchen knife lying on the ground outside the store.

During the investigation following the standoff, Kennedy's mother told police that she had noticed her black-handled Wiltshire knife was missing.

In a police interview, Kennedy confessed to stealing money from the convenience store and throwing the knife away outside the store.

He told police he used the money to pay off drug debts.

Kennedy was also charged for masking his face with the intent to commit a crime - but that charge was stayed.

Included in the court documents was a letter of apology Kennedy wrote to the 16-year-old cashier.

"I am very sorry for scaring you I didn't mean to. I was only there for the money. I didn't want to hurt you..."

Kennedy is scheduled to appear in court April 4 for a preliminary inquiry on the aggravated assault charge.