IQALUIT - Chris Bishop was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 16 years for a 2007 triple-slaying that shook Cambridge Bay.

Chris Bishop was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 16 years for a 2007 triple-slaying that shook Cambridge Bay. - NNSL file photo

In his sentencing decision in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on Friday, Justice John Vertes agreed with the defence that there were elements of self-defence in the case. He did, however, acknowledge that Bishop killed three men, some of whom were trying to escape – a level of violence completely unnecessary for self-protection.

"I also take into account the prevalence of crimes of violence in Nunavut communities," said Vertes, adding he did not need to cite evidence for this statement but knew this from living and working in the North as a lawyer and judge.

He said the victims played a role in the violence, as they had "worked themselves up to a state where they wanted to beat up" Bishop. "Macho arrogance" and a belief that violence can solve a problem, combined with alcohol, led to this, he said.

"They were bent on violence but they met greater violence," said Vertes. "This should be a lesson to everyone – violence only spawns more violence."

Defence lawyer Scott Cowan called the decision "spot on" even though he was asking for 10 years until parole eligibility, the mandatory minimum for second degree murder. He and Bishop will be appealing the decision.

"It's not up to me to say if it's fair or not," said Ainiak Korgak, Bishop's uncle, outside the courthouse after the decision. He said Bishop's family continues to support him.

Bishop had pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and two of attempted murder, to which a jury found him guilty on June 8.

On Jan. 6, 2007, four men broke into Bishop's Cambridge Bay home just before 3 a.m. with the intent to physically harm him. When they reached his bedroom, he opened fire on them with an assault rifle that resembled an AK-47, and followed them outside, still shooting, while they fled. Many of the shots were in the victims' backs and he shot one man dead while he was trying to crawl away, already injured by Bishop's bullets.

Keith Atatahak, 28, Kevin Komaksiut, 22, and Dean Costa, 29, died during the shooting. Antoinette Bernhardt and Logan Pigalak were shot, but not fatally injured.

Bishop spoke to the court on Friday for the first time throughout the entire court proceedings. First, he thanked his family and friends for their support.

"I wish things could have ended differently ... I don't want to be involved in any type of violence again," said Bishop.

He did not apologize to the victims' families and Cowan said Bishop still maintains his actions were in self-defence.

Vertes described the arguments for parole eligibility, made by the defence and the Crown prosecutors, as resembling the arguments to prove whether or not Bishop was guilty of murder and not manslaughter.

"It sounds to me like a repeat of the arguments made to the jury," said Vertes.

Cowan argued that though Bishop was found guilty of murder and not manslaughter, there were "elements" of self-defence in the case – in the range between self-defence and premeditated murder, this leaned toward self-defence.

Crown prosecutor Carla Ball argued that Bishop had planned to exact revenge on this group of people for a feud that had been growing between him and them for some time, and their invasion of his home gave him that opportunity. A witness had told the court Bishop had shown them a picture of himself with a rifle and said he was going to get them back for the things they had done to him – things which were not made completely clear during the proceedings.

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