Little Ottawa can do for Calgary man handed 200-year prison sentence in U.S., legal expert says

A Calgary criminal lawyer says there's little Ottawa can do to help a Calgary man who was handed a 200-year prison sentence in the United States.

Michael Ilk was sentenced Mondayto 200 years in Montana State Prison for shooting his ex-girlfriend and her co-worker during what U.S. prosecutors say was a jealous rage.

The sentenceincludestwo 80-year termsfor both charges of attempted deliberate homicide, and 20 years per count of aggravated assault, with no parole, the Western News reported.

Lawyer Michael Bates says beyond making sure a Canadian is getting a fair trial, the federal government has to let the process run its course.

"Because he's in a Western democracy, because he's in a place that has a rule of lawand has a presumption of innocence, and in that sense is procedurally very similar to Canada, it's not really a government's place to get into that process," Batessaid.

Prosecutors say Ilkfired about 10 shots at his ex-girlfriend, Hadassah Pereslete, and Tyler Wilsonat a construction site in Montana where Pereslete worked.

Pereslete and Wilson, both of Eureka, Mont., each were hit twice during the April 15, 2015, shooting.

Ilk followed them to the Eureka Law Enforcement Center, where he was arrested.

Defence attorneys argued that Wilson shot first and that Ilk fired back in self-defence. Ilk maintained his innocence in a letter he read at his sentencing hearing.

A spokesman with Global Affairs Canada says Canadian officials in Denver are providing consular assistance to Ilk.

Ilk's lawyer told CBC News they will appeal the sentence.

• MORE ALBERTANEWS|Foothills Nordic Ski Club says if you build it, they will come as groomed Confederation Park trail gets closer
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|It's going up by how much? SAIT international student fees hiked by nearly 60% in some cases