‘He did not deserve to die like this’: Final person sentenced in body in barrel murder case

CTV London’s Nick Paparella with the sentencing of Wesley Peters in connection to the 2020 murder of Grant Norton.

Five and a half years after the body of Grant Norton, 59, was found stuffed in a white plastic barrel along the Thames River in east London, the final person convicted in the case has been sentenced.

A total of five people would be arrested in connection with the killing and on Friday Wesley Peters was sent to prison.

Originally charged with murder, the 34-year-old Peters pled guilty to the lesser but included offence of manslaughter in October.

The court has heard that Norton, a known drug dealer, was lured to an apartment on Adelaide Street South to make a deal in July of 2020. Instead, he was tied up, beaten and killed before being stuffed in the barrel.

Peters and the others suspected Norton had a large amount of cash with him.

In her victim impact statement, Norton’s mother said of her son, “He did not deserve to die like this, and it is the torture that rivets through my body and wakes me up at night in helpless tears and anguish.”

The court has heard Peters was among those who beat Norton, with Senior Justice Bruce Thomas saying, “While tied up Peters struck him with the handgun that he possessed.”

The court heard Peters has a lengthy and violent criminal record with the judge saying, “He’s had seven violent offences including armed robbery.”

In a joint sentencing submission both the Crown and defence requested that Peters receive an 18-year prison term with credit for time already served.

Justice Thomas agreed, meaning he has 10 years and seven months left on his sentence.

Out of the other four people convicted in the case only Ashley Bourget, the so-called ringleader, received a longer sentence of life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder.

Before the hearing ended Peters addressed the court.

“I’m sorry for the family and friends of Grant Norton for the loss my actions have caused...I have no one to blame but myself,” he said.