Saskatoon man guilty of 2nd-degree murder in spouse's stabbing death
A judge has found a Saskatoon man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his spouse.
Tammy Brown was stabbed more than 80 times in her home. Blake Schreiner admitted to the killing, but pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Schreiner testified he heard voices telling him to kill Brown, with the defence’s psychiatrist diagnosing him with a schizophrenia-type disorder.
Justice Ronald Mills said he had “great difficulty” with Schreiner's testimony in court and information he provided to the defence psychiatrist.
Crown Prosecutor Mel Kujawa said Schreiner made up the mental disorder symptoms.
“Mr. Schreiner tried to claim this was something that it wasn’t. He created a diagnosis, and therefore insulted all the people who have genuine mental health disorders,” Kujawa said.
The Crown argued problems in the couple’s relationship, and Schreiner’s fears about a custody battle over their kids fuelled the killing.
“There was no way he was going to let her have [the kids], so he makes the irrational decision to kill her,” Kujawa said.
EXPLANATION 'MAKES NO SENSE'
Schreiner had testified he heard voices to kill his daughter before Brown, but he fell asleep.
The judge questioned how he could ignore the voices telling him to kill his daughter, but not the voices to kill Brown.
“His explanation that he fell asleep … makes no sense,” the judge said.
“The evidence leads me to conclude that this was an impulsive act.”
Schreiner wore a suit, staring at the judge as he read the verdict.
“It’s definitely disappointing. It’s not what we were hoping for,” defence lawyer Brad Mitchell told reporters outside the courthouse.
Second-degree murder holds a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole for at least 10 years.
'EVERYBODY LOVED TAMMY'
Brown’s father, Bruce, said while the family was hoping for first-degree, they were pleased with second-degree murder.
“I know Tammy would be happy,” the victim’s father said.
Brown is being remembered as a hardworking teacher at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and a mother who loved her two kids.
Schreiner testified her last words were “Mommy loves you” when the kids came into the room during the stabbing.
“Everybody loved Tammy. Plain and simple,” Bruce said — referring to her family, friends and students.
The Crown and defence will argue when Schreiner should be eligible for parole during sentencing in August.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.