A Manitoba man found guilty of the attempted murder of an OPP officer in Rossmore in June 2021 was handed a 10-year sentence on Friday, that will be served concurrently with a first degree murder conviction he received last month.
Justice Patrick Hurley sentenced Eric Wildman to 10 years with credit for 12 days of pre-sentence custody for the attempted murder conviction and three months for possession of a restricted weapon to be served concurrently.
Wildman also received a lifetime weapons prohibition order, a DNA order and a forfeiture order.
The 38-year-old was convicted in a Picton courtroom in November 2024.
Justice Hurley handed down the sentence which was in agreement with a joint proposal made by the Crown and defence.
In a Winnipeg courtroom in February, Wildman was convicted of first degree murder in the June 2021 death of 40-year-old Clifford Joseph.
While he has not been sentenced yet in that case, a first degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
There cannot be consecutive sentences added to a life sentence so any other conviction is served concurrently.
Until the incidents of June 2021, Wildman had no previous criminal history.
The Manitoba case was not admissible evidence in the local trial.
Crown attorney Adam Zegouras says 10 years may seem long for someone with no prior criminal record but is appropriate to reflect the impact of the seriousness of the offences of which he was convicted.
A Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued for Wildman in June 2021 in connection with the disappearance and murder of Joseph, his neighbour.
Wildman was located at a home on Massassauga Road in Rossmore and in the early hours of June 18, when police attempted to enter the home, he fired six bullets from a Glock 90 pistol.
The Glock was legally registered to Wildman in Manitoba but he was not authorized to travel to other provinces with it.
Instead of firing back, police retreated and after an intense negotiation, Wildman and the homeowner surrendered about three hours later.
None of the officers involved was injured.
