A Calgary judge called it an incomprehensible crime Wednesday, when sentencing Joshua Weise for a gruesome act.
“Selfish,” “savage” and “heinous,” is how the judge described what he called a “rare” crime, before handing down an 18-month sentence.
In June, 2016 Joshua Jordan Weise dismembered 25-year-old Joey English‘s dead body before dumping part of her in a treed area in Crescent Heights. He pleaded guilty to one count of offering an indignity to human remains in the fall of 2016.
“For me, I have no choice. I have to move on. It’s difficult, it’s hard,” Joey’s mother, Stephanie English said Wednesday.
Weise was never accused of killing English. She is said to have died of a drug overdose before Weise found her.
Weise was sentenced to 18 months in jail with credit given for time served, meaning he will spend another 207 days behind bars.
“The family, I’m sure, will be upset with how low the sentence is,” said Crown prosecutor Ken McCaffrey. “What makes it difficult are the limits placed on the judges and the Crown prosecutors in terms of what we can ask for.”
During sentencing submissions, the Crown asked for Weise to be sentenced to up to two years in prison. The defence had argued Weise should serve no more than a year.
Stephanie English somewhat agrees with Wednesday’s sentence, but still struggles with closure because Joey’s limbs are still missing.
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She’s relying on the strength of family, friends and prayer to move forward.
“Today I still can’t bury my daughter in full, but her body was only gifted to her. Her spirit is at home. It’s her children that are the ones that are suffering,” she said.
READ MORE: Police charge Calgary man after dismembered body of 25-year-old woman found
She hopes the tragedy can serve as a lesson for others.
“I want to make it awareness out there, all women and men living with mental illness and addiction, to get help,” she said. “It’s not too late.”
After Weise serves his sentence, he faces three years of probation.
“The judge has given strict probation conditions,” McCaffrey said. “I hope the accused takes this opportunity and improves his life so this doesn’t happen again.”
The judge commended the English family for being at court Wednesday to see justice through.
Watch below from March 31: Judge reserves decision in Crescent Heights dismemberment case
— With files from Melissa Gilligan
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