Aime Simard had been a hitman for the Rock Machine motorcycle gang died from “massive bleeding which led to hemorrhagic shock,”

Aime Simard bled to death from wounds sustained in an attack in his penitentiary cell, a pathologist told a first-degree murder trial Thursday.
Simard died from “massive bleeding which led to hemorrhagic shock,” Dr. Roman Michalski told Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Ronald Mills in response to the question from Crown attorney Robin Ritter.
“Probably there was no instant death,” said Michalski.
Simard, a member of a gang affiliated with the Hells Angels who became a police informant, was stabbed 187 times on July 18, 2003.
Christopher Robert Cluney, 33, is being tried for first-degree murder. Cluney’s co-accused, Alvin Vern Starblanket, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole for 13 years.
Earlier Thursday, RCMP Staff Sergeant Jacques Lemieux had told the court it is not easy to become a member of the Hells Angels while in prison.
“You don’t just wake up one morning and decide, ‘I’m going to become a Hells Angel. You have to be known by the organization for awhile” or be sponsored by a member from a geographically close chapter, he said.
“If I were in the pen and sponsored by someone from (the) Saskatoon (chapter), would I have to meet with Saskatoon (members)?” asked defense lawyer Morris Bodnar.
“Eventually, yes,” said Lemieux, adding membership ceremonies take place only after the inmate’s release.
Aime Simard, 35, was found dead in his cell at Saskatchewan Penitentiary just weeks after being transferred to the institution in July 2003. He had been a hitman for the Rock Machine motorcycle gang -- a group affiliated with the Hells Angels -- prior to turning informant against members of the Rockers in exchange for an early parole date.Alvin Vern Starblanket, 26, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in a plea bargain providing a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 13 years.Simard, who was serving a life sentence on three counts of second-degree murder, was scheduled to testify at a Nova Scotia murder trial at the time of his death.Crown prosecutor Robin Ritter said it was common knowledge in prison there was a contract out on Simard's life.While there was no evidence Starblanket received any payment for the killing, Ritter pointed out Starblanket enjoyed a favourable relationship with Hells Angels leader, "Mom" Boucher, at the special handling unit in Quebec where Starblanket was transferred after Simard's death.Defence lawyer Ed Stephens said his client was not a member of any biker gang and killed Simard in a spur of the moment attack, after Simard made veiled threats against Starblanket.
Starblanket's relationship with Boucher was not relevant in Monday's sentencing, said Justice Ron Mills.Starblanket was awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter conviction for the 2002 beating death of a priest, Rev. John Kratko, 61, in Prince Albert at the time of the Simard attack in the prison's maximum security unit, court heard.Starblanket entered the cell where Simard was housed in the early evening of July 18, 2003, Ritter said.Simard was made to lie on the bed, Ritter said.
Using a homemade "shank" comparable to an ice pick, Starblanket stabbed Simard for a "long time," during which Simard was heard "crying and screaming," Ritter said.
Stephens said his client admitted he intended to "finish off" Simard once the attack began."He wanted to make sure he didn't come back after him," Stephens said. "It's the law of the jungle in there."It wasn't planned or deliberate. It was one of these things that happen," he said.Simard, originally from Quebec, was eligible for parole after serving 12 years of his sentence. He was sentenced in 1997.According to a Montreal newspaper report from December 2001, Simard felt "hunted" inside the penitentiary, believing other inmates had branded him a "turncoat."Starblanket declined to say anything before he was sentenced.Mills prohibited Starblanket from ever owning weapons before imposing the sentence that was put forward jointly by Crown and defence."There is no lecture I can give that will have any impact on your life. You've chosen your path," Mills said.

Also Monday, Starblanket's co-accused, Christopher Robert Cluney, 33, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

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