In a case that rocked the city more than a decade ago, the man who was originally convicted of first-degree murder was set free on Wednesday.
In a Barrie courtroom yesterday, 29-year-old Nick Bullock admitted that, when he was 16, he stabbed his 14-year-old cousin Brayton Bullock to death on March 9, 2006 in Lackies Bush in Barrie's south end near Little Avenue and Bayview Drive.
Originally found guilty of first-degree murder in 2010 and sentenced to life in prison, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the conviction last June and ordered a new trial based on mistakes made by police at the time of the arrest. The new trial was to begin this September.
At a pre-trial discussion for the new trial, it was determined that if Nick Bullock pleaded guilty to manslaughter, he could be out of prison this year with time served. He had been incarcerated since 2006.
Nick Bullock's lawyer, Anthony Moustacalis, told BarrieToday that talk of his client pleading guilty to manslaughter happened over the course of several months after the new trial was ordered
The judge in Wednesday’s proceedings believed Nick Bullock was remorseful for his actions.
"There was an agreed statement of facts where Nicholas admitted to stabbing his cousin and the judge determined that he was remorseful," Moustacalis said. "There were no facts to show that he planned the killing, but rather it happened during an argument between the two cousins."
But Brayton Bullock’s parents don't agree with the decision to release their son’s killer.
Brayton's mother, Tammy Warren-Bullock, told BarrieToday she doesn’t understand how someone with no rehabilitation could be released.
“He isn’t remorseful, whatsoever,” she said. “We, as the parents of the victim, get reports on what Nick has been up to while in prison and I can assure you he has not been rehabilitated. He hasn’t completed any type of class or course since he was back in youth jail in 2009."
Warren-Bullock is upset with the justice system for not involving her and Brayton’s father, Colin Bullock, in the decision to release the person who killed their son, nor for putting any significant release conditions on him.
She says they were informed Feb. 4 that there was a possibility Nick Bullock could be released and that lawyers were working on the situation. Four days later, they were told it was going to happen and to prepare victim impact statements.
“Then we find out that while their defence has been that Nick was high on drugs when he committed murder, they don’t even ban him from consuming drugs or alcohol even though they have the power to do so," Warren-Bullock said.
Brayton’s parents have both received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for their work to help with victims’ rights, while Warren-Bullock has also been awarded other medals for helping police.
However, she admits it wasn’t always easy for her to be out at events, and the last two days have left her feeling angry, an emotion she doesn’t like to feel.
“The first time around, I was in deep grief. I had just lost my son in the worst possible way,” she said. “I would stand and wait for his school bus to come forever. I had depression and extreme sadness, but never anger.
"For better or worse, grief got me through those years, but now I’m just angry. I hate feeling this way, but I’m so angry.”
Brayton’s father, Colin Bullock, told BarrieToday that he's also mad at a system which he believes let his son down.
“Outraged, let down and betrayed. The whole system is built on integration back into society. We have been told that for 13 years. From first-degree to free is not right," said Colin Bullock, adding there should be some form of monitoring or restrictions.
Colin Bullock says the case has been affecting the family in other ways, too.
“A person close to us was asked to leave their rental unit because of the landlord being scared for his family," he said. “I understand, but I don’t. These things don’t just happen to us. It's a snowball effect and we have lost a lot of friends over the years for this reason.
"People don’t understand and when they say they do, they really don’t.”
