Two Found Guilty in Hells Angels Recruitment Murder

A jury in Perth, Ont., has convicted two men of first-degree murder for the death of Hells Angels recruit Greg Slewidge in nearby Beckwith Township over four years ago.

Crown prosecutors argued that Michael Clairoux and Lee Marazzo plotted and executed the murder of the 39-year-old at a legal marijuana grow-op on September 24, 2020.

Both were charged with first-degree murder in January 2022 and entered not guilty pleas.

The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon and returned with their verdicts on Thursday afternoon.

When the verdict was announced, there were tears and hugs among the victim’s family, while others who knew the accused left the courtroom immediately.

The sentence for first-degree murder is life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Lawyers representing Clairoux and Marazzo indicated on Thursday that they intend to appeal the decision.

Family Speaks About Their Pain

Slewidge’s family, including his father Lyndon – a former Ontario Provincial Police officer and well-known Ottawa Senators anthem singer – was present during final arguments and shared victim impact statements on Thursday.

“I have been robbed, beaten down, wounded, severely scarred and left to think and mourn daily my son’s life, what happened and what his life would have been,” said Lyndon, expressing the fear his family experienced after his son’s killing went unsolved for months.

He added that since his son’s passing, he has felt too exhausted and heartbroken to sing.

Greg Slewidge’s youngest sister Heather Ball told the court that he was both a friend and a big brother to her.

“Every day feels incomplete without him,” she mentioned, stating she will never find closure and is “constantly haunted” by her loss.

During these statements, supporters of both convicted men sat quietly as Slewidge’s family wiped away tears from their eyes.

Discussions Surrounding Surveillance Footage

The court case revolved around high-definition surveillance footage along with conflicting accounts about who appears in those videos. 

The Crown stated during closing arguments this week that Clairoux and Marazzo surprised Slewidge just days before he was set to become a full-patch Hells Angels member. They allegedly used a rope to strangle him before leaving his body with a knife in his back. 

Greg Slewidge, 39, was found dead on Sept. 24, 2020, at a former meat-packing plant just outside Carleton Place, Ont. (OPP)

Prosecutors claim that these men were hired by an associate from the Red Devils Motorcycle Club-a known affiliate of the Hells Angels-following an argument over car repairs. 

The defense claimed that clothing details matched Clairoux’s and Marazzo’s actions but questioned how reliable the surveillance footage is regarding their identification as suspects.

Additonal security measures were taken for these proceedings; police guarded the courtroom entrance where everyone had to be searched before entering.

Both sides had supporters present during parts of closing arguments which led to heightened tensions within the courtroom atmosphere.

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