For killing his wife, John Strang has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.
He also received a two-year concurrent sentence for uttering threats.
In August 2015, Strang fatally shot his wife Lisa Strang from behind. He also told another woman he wanted to rape her.
Earlier this month, Strang pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan man pleads guilty to second-degree murder in 2015 death of wife
Outside court, friends of Lisa had a message for Strang.
“You’ve been convicted of a horrible and heinous crime. You took the life of the person who loved you the most, who was just a wonderful individual and good friend to all of us here,” Patrick Bundrock, Lisa Strang’s friend, said.
“As you begin your life sentence, you need to reflect on your actions and things that you did, and the one thing we have never, ever heard is why.”
“We deserve to know why.”
Lisa, a longtime Sask. Party employee, is remembered as a mentor to her colleagues, an amazing confidante and a kind soul, Justice Ellen Gunn said as she discussed victim impact statements.
Gunn said that spousal abuse, and the fact that Strang had killed his wife in what should have been the safety of her home, was an aggravating factor in sentencing.
“Lisa Strang clearly was a loved and supported person. A lot of people really cared about her. We saw a number of individuals come to court to support her, and she would have had a lot of support if she had decided to leave Mr. Strang,” Crown prosecutor Kelly Kaip said.
“He was successful in isolating her. It highlights what we know anecdotally that sometimes women are most at risk when they decide to leave,” she added.
Gunn said some of the mitigating factors were that Strang didn’t have a prior criminal record and expressed sorrow and remorse. He also pleaded guilty.
“I think the sentence speaks for itself. It took a lot of work to get there,” defence lawyer Brian Smith said. “It’s a result we’re satisfied with.”
The Crown and defence made a joint submission for Strang’s sentence, which the judge accepted.
“I understand it’s within the guidelines that the courts used for previous offences, but an extra three or four years would have felt good,” Bundrock said. “Seventeen years in jail and then being eligible for parole just doesn’t feel right for having committed murder.”
Bundrock said now that the sentencing was finished, he had more closure.
“We have a lot of healing to do, but more importantly we also have to remember a friend, and never let her memory or her legacy or what she’s accomplished in her life be forgotten.”
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