Barrie murder suspect pleads guilty to firearms offense

The suspect in a Peterborough murder who barricaded himself in a Manitou Park home last year pleaded guilty to half a dozen gun-related charges last week.

Eduardo Tito Silva was found guilty of six charges related to three handguns and a high-capacity magazine.

The offenses included three counts of possession of a restricted weapon (pistol), a 9mm Glock, a 10mm Glock and a .45 caliber Glock.

The remaining charges were one-time possession of an unlicensed gun magazine, possession of a firearm even though it was prohibited, and possession of a gun for a dangerous purpose.

Silva, 36, of Barrie, faces more than 30 gun-related charges stemming from the Aug. 22, 2023, incident.

At the time of the standoff on Farquhar Street, he was wanted in connection with a July 2022 murder in Peterborough.

When he was arrested in the Sault, he was originally charged with seven felonies, including second-degree murder, in connection with the shooting death of Shawn Singh a year ago.

City police charged him with 33 weapons offenses the next day after returning to the residence with a search warrant.

Ontario Court Judge Romuald Kwolek heard de Silva was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant and was prohibited from possessing various firearms and ammunition at the time of the incident.

Additionally, assistant Crown attorney Robert Skeggs said Silva has two lifetime gun bans.

When officers executed a Criminal Code search warrant on August 23, they found three handguns, two high-capacity magazines and ammunition for several different caliber firearms.

The prosecutor and defense attorney Ari Goldkind jointly requested a sentence of three years and 10 months in prison, minus the time Silva has spent in custody since his arrest.

Skeggs said given Silva’s criminal record, which also includes convictions for robbery and other weapons charges, he should receive serious prison time for just one of those crimes.

“She’s no Mother Theresa,” Goldkind admitted to the judge, acknowledging that his client’s record was not significant, relevant and “enviable.”

The defense also stated that the Crown could have asked for more time, given the amount of firearms and ammunition involved.

Goldkind said this joint position was worked out with Crown offices in Sault and Peterborough, and once that was done, “this matter was quickly resolved.”

He told the court Silva would appear in court in Peterborough late next year on “the most significant charge in the Criminal Code (murder)”.

With increased credit for the 15 months he has already spent in prison, Kwolek said Silva will remain behind bars for two years less a day, which time will be served in state prison.

While giving the sentence, the judge pointed out that guns and pistols have become widespread in this state and country.

Kwolek said these were serious offenses and Silva had a previous record of this, serving two previous life bans.
While allegations of guilt are mitigated, “serious crimes attract serious and lengthy prison sentences.”

He ordered the confiscation of all weapons and ammunition seized by the police.

He also imposed a lifetime gun ban. At the request of the defense, Kwolek recommended that Silva spend the remainder of his time at the Algoma Treatment and Detention Center.