It’s too soon to say if there will be an appeal of Robert Belbin’s conviction or sentence for second-degree murder.
The 24-year-old St. John’s man was sentenced last week to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 10 years.
A jury found Belbin guilty last fall in the stabbing death of his friend, 22-year-old Seamus Secord, in a dispute over missing drugs.
It happened along Mayor Avenue in the centre of the city on February 7th, 2023.
The trial heard conflicting accounts of what happened and who was the aggressor in the fight.
But in the end the jury, which could’ve convicted Belbin of the lesser charge of manslaughter, found him guilty of murder.
However, the judge sentenced him to the minimum number of 10 years before he can apply for parole, two years less than what the Crown asked for.
Contacted by VOCM, neither the Crown nor defence would say if they are considering an appeal.
They have 30 days from the date of sentencing to file such a notice with the court.
