B.C. man sentenced to life in prison for 1998 murder
VANCOUVER — A former New Westminster, B.C., man convicted of murder was sentenced to life in prison Thursday with no parole for at least 17 years.
The killer, Gary Johnston, had already served two years in custody awaiting trial for the fatal stabbing of Vic Fraser in Surrey 13 years ago.
Johnston was earlier convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing Fraser nine times.
Justice Robert Crawford said the killing was “remorseless, brutal, sustained and violent.” Fraser likely lived for about 10 minutes before he bled out.
“It is unimaginable to know one’s life blood is swamping one’s internal organs over several minutes,” Crawford added.
Johnston had broken into the Surrey home of Fraser’s sister Jeanie Fraser,burberry outlet cheap who said Thursday she was a bit disappointed Johnston didn’t get the maximum sentence.
“At least he’s not going to victimize another family,” the sister said.
Vic Fraser, 42, was a popular trucker who was well-loved by his family, which was devastated by the crime which went unsolved for years.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison with no parole for between 10 and 25 years.
Prosecutor Lothar Kiner had asked B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Crawford to impose a parole ineligibility period between 17 and 21 years, considering Johnston, 52, had a lengthy criminal record and had killed another man after murdering Fraser on March 10, 1998.
Johnston had fled town and moved to Regina after killing Fraser.
Eighteen months later, Johnston stabbed another man to death, wrapped his body in plastic and dumped it in a field.
He was charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He served seven years for that crime.
Once Johnston was released, B.C.’s Unsolved Homicide squad took charge of the Fraser homicide and decided to do an undercover operation, which ended with Johnston confessing details of Fraser’s murder to an officer posing as a crime boss in Ontario.
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