Above watch: Court heard victim impact statements in the murder case of Lacey Jones-McKnight. Tracy Nagai reports.
CALGARY – Family and friends of a 20-year-old woman killed by her ex-fiancé read emotional victim impact statements in a Calgary court on Tuesday.
The statements were presented during a sentencing hearing for Kristopher Guenther, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Lacey Jones-McKnight on March 20.
READ MORE: Man accused of murdering ex-fiancé testifies death was accidental
Family friend Trudy Welner told court she couldn’t believe the young woman is gone.
“My heart aches and I’m forever in disbelief that her life was taken too soon,” she said.
Jones-McKnight’s mother, Shelly Jones, said her daughter was the “epitome of everything good” and that she felt “paralyzed by my never-ending sadness and grief.”
“My beautiful daughter Lacey wasn’t just a part of my life. She was my life,’” reads Jones’ statement.
“She was my best friend. She was my sunshine. She was my everything. But I will never again see her beautiful face, her pretty smile. I will never again hear her sweet voice or her infectious laughter. I will never again hear her say, ‘I love you, too, mom.”…My whole being aches for her. To be with her. To tell her that I am so sorry.”
READ MORE: Court releases 911 call made on night of Lacey Jones-McKnight’s murder
Jones-McKnight was choked to death in October 2012; Guenther faces an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
With files from Tracy Nagai
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