A former Alberta teacher convicted of second-degree murder in her husband’s 2014 death has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 13 years.
READ MORE: Former Alberta teacher found guilty of second-degree murder in husband’s death
Deborah Doonanco, 53, was also sentenced on charges of arson and interfering with human remains in Kevin Feland’s death.
READ MORE: Alberta woman charged with husband’s murder after body found in fire
Feland’s body was found in Doonanco’s Glendon home on Sunday, May 25, 2014. Doonanco, 53, admitted she shot him twice and set the home on fire. Her defence lawyer Brian Beresh argued she acted in self defence and that she suffered from battered woman syndrome.
“(He was) an extremely abusive man, someone who was a heavy crack-cocaine user.”
READ MORE: Former teacher on trial for 2nd-degree murder; defence to argue battered woman syndrome
The jury did not agree with the defence’s main argument that Doonanco was the victim of battered woman syndrome.
The Crown argued Doonanco killed Feland to get him out of her house and her life.
READ MORE: ‘I shot him and I ran’: former Alberta teacher cross-examined during murder trial
Beresh said his client was upset and surprised by the Nov. 29, 2016 verdict. He indicated they would appeal.
“We’re very surprised with this jury deliberating in a case like this for less than two hours. We’re not very pleased at all. There certainly will be an appeal.”
With files from Brad Wisker, 630 CHED
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