WARNING: This story contains graphic content. Discretion is advised.
A plea deal was reached Monday in the case of a Calgary man accused of killing his wife over two years ago. James Christians pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder in a Calgary court.
Christians, now 67, was originally charged with first-degree murder of his estranged wife Carmel Christians.
Details of the murder have been read into with an agreed statement of facts.
On Oct. 16, 2013, Christians went to the home of Delores McMartin where Carmel was staying. He waited for her to leave, and then approached, striking her with a crowbar and stabbing her with a butcher knife.
EXCLUSIVE: Startling revelations in murder of Calgary woman
‘She was my rock’: son of Carmel Christians has statement read in court
There were tears in the courtroom Monday as the Crown prosecutor read victim impact statements from Carmel’s brother, her sister, and her son, Cory Christians.
Cory wrote, “since my mom passed away everything has become more difficult. Getting out of bed was nearly impossible for the first few months.”
He described a need for anti-depressant and sleep-aid medications.
“My mom was my rock..someone I knew I could turn to at any time.
“I will never have another mother….one day I will have to explain to my future children why their grandma is not here. My heart will never truly heal, and I will always feel an emptiness inside because of it.”
Carmel Christians’ best friend, Delores McMartin read her victim impact statement in court. Christians showed no emotion as McMartin broke down in tears.
“October 16, 2013 was a day in my life, a day in Cory’s life and a day in Carm’s family’s life which none of us will ever forget,” she said in court.
McMartin spoke about how Carmel was looking forward to starting a new life by divorcing James.
She said that morning Carmel’s ‘hopes were dashed, and in the most cruel way’.
“That horrific day I lost my best friend, my sister in love, my best companion. An enormous part of my soul was taken from me.”
“The physical and mental pain I suffer every minute of the day constantly reminds me of the events of Oct. 16 that changed my life forever,” she added.
Christians also stabbed McMartin. She told the court her left leg doesn’t function normally any more and gives way unexpectedly.
“An appropriate sentence will not bring our ray of sunshine back or heal our pain, but hopefully it will bring closure and start the healing process,” she said.
For his part, James Christians apologized to his son and Carmel’s family.
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“I was contemplating suicide when this happened to Carm,” he said.
Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with a minimum of 10 years in prison before parole can be considered.
The Crown is asking for 20 years of parole ineligibility while the defence is asking for 16 years.
Queens Bench Justice Colleen Kenny will hand down her sentence on March 4th.
Leading up to Oct. 16: ‘I’m not putting my hands up, just shoot me’
Less than six weeks before the 55-year-old mother was murdered, the couple had argued over Carmel wanting to go to a football game with her friend, Delores McMartin. James became angry. He pushed her, called her names, and punched her in the face.
James was suicidal at the time, and when police pulled him over in a traffic stop, he told officers, “F—k you, I’m not putting my hands up, just shoot me.”
He was detained under the Mental Health Act but was released later that day. Police seized a steak knife from his truck at the time.
James Christians was charged with assault, and Carmel went before a judge, testifying she worried he would kill her. She was granted an emergency protection order.
After the assault, Carmel moved out of the family home, and in with McMartin.
On Oct. 6, 2013, James was served with a statement of claim for divorce and division of matrimonial property.
After that, James visited the Bowladrome (where Carmel was in a bowling league) looking for her several times. He was unable to find her.
On the day of her murder, James drove to McMartin’s home with a butcher knife. He grabbed a crowbar from his vehicle, along with the knife, and waited outside of the duplex. He removed the porth light bulb. When Carmel left the home, he struck her with the crowbar and stabbed her several times with the knife.
McMartin heard three high-pitched sounds, and went outside to investigate. She saw James standing over Carmel. McMartin screamed as James walked towards her; she ran to him and grabbed him by the collar. He stabbed McMartin in the lower back.
Other neighbours were drawn to the scene, and witnessed James walking to his truck then driving away.
Christians died of several stab woulds to her torso and extremities. James also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of McMartin.
Police were able to find James two days later at a city gas station. He was driving his truck, but had switched the licence plate.
Inside the truck, investigators found the butcher knife used to stab Carmel. They also seized a note, and a rope tied in a noose in the box of the truck.
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