A hitman from Edmonton who shot a Calgary couple as they backed out of their driveway has been handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 18 years.

Michael Arnold, 37, walked up to the victims’ Bentley and shot Talal Fouani and Nakita Baron. Fouani was shot in the face and survived his injuries. Baron died in the Bentley. 

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Arnold of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Nancy Carruthers found that Arnold was hired to kill Fouani, but when he realized Baron was also in the vehicle, he shot her too. 

Carruthers also handed Arnold a 16-year prison term for the attempted murder conviction, which will be served concurrently to his life sentence. 

A man in his court attire stands in the courthouse lobby. Prosecutor Greg Whiteside says he hopes the judge’s sentence in the Michael Arnold murder trial gives ‘closure’ to the process. (Meghan Grant/CBC)

Defence lawyers Jordan McDermott and Kathryn Quinlan had asked Carruthers to impose a 15-year parole ineligibility period and a 16-year sentence for attempted murder, while prosecutors Hyatt Mograbee and Greg Whiteside had argued for an 18-year sentence for the attempted murder and a 20-year parole ineligibility period.

After court, Whiteside said the Crown is “still digesting” the judge’s decision.

“We’re hopeful that it gives closure for the process,” said Whiteside. 

“We want to ensure that communities understand that this is taken very seriously and that when somebody is hired to kill … there’s a strong denunciatory message.”

Organized crime connection 

Weeks before the shooting, Fouani had been charged with money laundering for an organized crime syndicate in a massive, transnational drug trafficking investigation.

Fouani has since admitted to his role in helping launder more than $800,000 on behalf of the group’s leader. 

Jurors heard evidence that Arnold staked out the couple’s Evergreen home for weeks leading up to the attack. 

Security footage from a neighbour’s home that captured the shootings was played during the trial. 

WATCH | The moments leading up to a deadly ambush in a Calgary suburb: 

The moments leading up to a deadly ambush in a Calgary suburb

CCTV footage shows a person approaching a vehicle as it backs out of a driveway seconds before shots are fired

On the morning of Aug. 18, 2022, Arnold, who was dressed in a construction vest and had a small dog with him, waited for hours before Fouani and Baron left their home, got in their car and began backing down the driveway. 

Arnold walked up to the driver’s side door. 

Disarmed by the fact that Arnold was wearing a construction vest, Fouani lowered his window.

Arnold then shot Fouani in the face, and as Baron screamed, he fired a second shot, fatally wounding her. 

Two different photos of a man with red hair. Hitman Michael Tyrel Arnold was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 18 years for fatally shooting Nakita Baron in August 2022. He also received a 16-year sentence for attempting to murder Baron’s husband, Talal Fouani. (Edmonton Police Service)

Upon hearing the gunshots, Arnold’s small dog began shrieking and pulling on his leash. In the chaos of trying to control the dog, Arnold dropped his gun, causing the magazine to fall out. 

The killer scooped up the dog and grabbed his gun, leaving the magazine with his DNA on it on the street.

Arnold was arrested a week later and has been in custody ever since. So, he has three years’ credit for the time he’s already served.Â