Sandra Hallam will finally have a funeral for her son 5 years later - Action News
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Sudbury

Sandra Hallam will finally have a funeral for her son 5 years later

A northern Ontario woman finally has the last of her son's remains more than five years after he was fatally stabbed, decapitated and dismembered.

Sandra Hallam says 2 years of jail time not enough for son's killers, slams prosecutors for plea deals

A woman holds up a frame containing a picture of a man to the camera.
Sandra Hallam poses for a portrait in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Hallam finally has the last of her son's remains more than five years after he was fatally stabbed, decapitated and dismembered. (Kenneth Armstrong/The Canadian Press)

A northern Ontario mother will finally have a funeral for her son after receiving the last of his remains more than five years after he was fatally stabbed, decapitated and dismembered.

Wesley Hallam, 29, was killed at a drug-fuelled house party in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in 2011, but his head and feet, which became key pieces of evidence in the investigation into his horrific death, weren't released until earlier this week.

"It just seems more surreal now," Sandra Hallam said Wednesday of her son's upcoming funeral. "Before I could put it off, saying maybe this isn't really happening, but now it's real."

A man wearing a black baseball cap smiles to the camera.
Wesley Hallam was killed at a drug-fuelled house party in 2011. The three men accused of first degree murder pleaded guilty to manslaughter and indignity to a human body. They will walk free in two years or less. (northernhoot.com)

Three men Eric Mearow, Ronald Mitchell and Dylan Jocko have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and causing an indignity to a human body in Hallam's death.

The plea deal reached in late July, just months before their first-degree murder trial was set to begin, has outraged many in the city, including police Chief Robert Keetch, who has said he will meet with the Attorney General's office soon to discuss the "problems" with the case.

Hallam's remains were cremated on Wednesday and his ashes will soon be combined with the ashes of his torso, which was cremated shortly after he died.

It took police months to find Hallam's head and feet, which, according to the agreed statement of facts, were wrapped in garbage bags and tossed in a dumpster in early January 2011. The investigation led police to a landfill across the border in Michigan.

The three men accused of first degree murder pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week. We spoke with the mother of the Sault Ste.Marie man that was killed. She gave us her reaction on the verdict, and said she wants answers. Listener discretion is advised

Keetch told The Canadian Press last week that it took his force three months to excavate and scour garbage at a cost of $1 million to find Hallam's head and feet. His hands have never been found.

Sandra Hallam is appreciative of the outpouring of support from the community. She said her son's friends will soon be holding a spaghetti dinner in his honour, while a local funeral home will provide a free public service for him on Aug. 20 and a free private burial two days later.

"Excellent, excellent people," Sandra Hallam said.

"I just don't want people to feel sorry for me. I don't want it to be about me, but about the injustice done here, I don't want any sympathy, that's all, but I do appreciate their kindness."

Lisa Damignani, who owns the funeral home, said she is covering the cost of the service and burial because "no mother should have to go through" what Sandra Hallamwentthrough.

"I am a mother and this is just devastating," she said.