Man behind fatal shooting in Faro, Yukon sentenced to life in prison, 25 years without parole

The man behind a deadly shooting in Faro, Yukon, three years ago has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Deputy Yukon Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hughes handed down the sentence to Ralph Bernard Shaw Thursday morning in Whitehorse.

Shaw, 64, pleaded guilty this week to first-degree murder for shooting his estranged wife, 42-year-old Saengduean Honchaiyaphum, outside her home on October 26, 2021.

The charge carries an automatic life sentence and a 25-year parole period.

Shaw also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing 73-year-old Patrick McCracken in the entryway of his home during that same shooting, and to aggravated assault for wounding Honchaiyaphum’s new partner.

Second-degree murder also carries an automatic life sentence, but with a parole period that can range from 10 to 25 years.

Hughes gave Shaw 17 and a half years of parole for the second-degree murder — less than the 25 the Crown asked for, but more than the 15 the defense requested. She also sentenced Shaw to ten years for aggravated assault, in line with the sentence sought by the defense, but four years less than the maximum allowed under the law and which the Crown had sought.

The sentences will be served concurrently, with the sentence for first-degree murder actually taking precedence.

Hughes described Honchaiyaphum’s murder as a “tragic and senseless death” and noted that McCracken was killed over a “perceived slight.” Hughes laid out the reasons for her conviction, listing a dozen aggravating factors in the case, including intimate partner violence, the killings occurring within a span of about 15 minutes and Shaw shooting Honchaiyaphum’s partner multiple times and then chasing him. Shaw also showed “complete indifference” to the safety of others when he shot into buildings in the city, Hughes said, causing serious trauma to both individuals and Faro as a whole.

The aggravating factors were somewhat mitigated by Shaw’s guilty pleas, Hughes said, which spared witnesses from having to testify at a trial. Shaw’s lack of a prior criminal record and his various health problems were also mitigating, she said, although to a much lesser extent.

More than twenty people were present in the courtroom on Thursday for the verdict. A number of people also watched the proceedings remotely via a video connection, including from Faro.

Shaw showed no visible reaction as Hughes read her decision, nor as he was led out of the courtroom afterward.

“I feel like justice was served today.”

Speaking to CBC News after the sentencing, McCracken’s wife, Barb, said she felt a sense of relief.

“I’m glad it’s over and (I’m) ready to go home,” she said, remembering her husband as a “wonderful man” who was generous and always helped others.

“I feel like justice was done today. I’m happy with the outcome of all this.”

Honchaiyaphum’s longtime friend, Kara Went, also said she was “very relieved.”

“Our biggest fear was that (Shaw) would come back and harm more people in our community, so there is a huge sense of relief that he will likely never leave prison due to his age and health,” Went said.

However, she also said she was sad because Honchaiyaphum had less than three months of “freedom” from Shaw before he killed her.

Shaw and Honchaiyaphum met when he was teaching in her home country of Thailand in the early 2000s. Went helped Honchaiyaphum leave what she described as the extremely restrictive, controlling relationship in early August 2021.

“I wish it was three years ago that she was free of that,” she said, describing Honchaiyaphum as “the most loving mother” and an “incredible friend” with “a very sneaky sense of humor.”

“She would just say things softly and you’d be like, ‘Wow, Sang, where did you come up with that?’” Went recalled.

“And she always apologized for her English skills, but her English was fine and she was just incredibly loving and kind.”

Went, who traveled from Faro to Whitehorse for the proceedings, spent most of her time in the courtroom crocheting blankets.

She said she planned to donate them to Kaushee’s Place, a transition home in Whitehorse for women, gender diverse people and their children, where Honchaiyaphum took refuge after first leaving Shaw.

“I hope these blankets can go to other women experiencing domestic violence,” Went said.

“It felt good to keep my hands busy while I was in the courtroom and do something nice for maybe other women who just need to feel strong about the next step they take in their own lives.”