Nunavut woman gets life in prison for spouse's murder
Judge rules she can apply for parole after serving 10 years
CBC News
Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:18 PM CST
Last Updated: Nov 21, 2012 1:55 PM CST
A Repulse Bay, Nunavut, woman has been sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 10 years for the murder of her spouse.
Joyce Kringuk shot and killed her spouse, Joani Kringayark, four years ago in Repulse Bay. She was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this month.
In his written sentencing decision, Justice Robert Kilpatrick said a longer period in prison without parole would have been justified because Joyce Kringuk killed her spouse, someone who should have been able to trust her, and because she did it in front of their two young children, who will be scarred forever.
Kilpatrick said longer terms without parole are warranted in a territory where spousal murder happens frequently, to send the message that violence that results in the death of a loved one will not be tolerated.
But Kilpatrick called the murder "the angry act of a desperate woman" who had already turned to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts as a way to cope with a lifetime of abuse.
He agreed with both the Crown and defence lawyers' submission to allow Kringuk to apply for parole after 10 years.
Kilpatrick said the decision does not set a precedent.
Kringuk has already spent four years in custody, which corrections officials will take into consideration when they determine when she could be eligible for parole.
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