Edmonton man sentenced to 8 years for stabbing and dismemberment

A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he stabbed and dismembered a woman more than a year ago was sentenced Tuesday afternoon.

28 year old Joshua Houle received six years for the manslaughter charge he pleaded guilty to late last year, as well as two years for performing and indignity to a human body. 

The sentences are to be served consecutively, but with time served it will amount to roughly seven years in prison.

The charges and sentence stem from events that transpired on December 31st, 2011, when Misty Ward’s body was found inside a Jasper Avenue apartment.

In court, it was revealed that Ward had been drinking with Houle, who fell asleep on the couch. When she went to wake him, Houle was startled and stabbed her in the neck with a steak knife.

Houle took her to the bathroom to rinse away the blood, but she later died of her injury.

In a panicked state, Houle said he then began to dismember her body.

Ward’s family is devastated by the length of Houle’s sentence, calling it “a slap in the face.” They had hoped for a sentence closer to 10 years, which is what the Crown was pushing for.

Despite their disappointment, at this stage, the Ward family is ready to move on.

“After this day she can rest now because he got his so called punishment,” said Misty’s sister, Nicole Ward.

“I have to forgive him and eventually I think I will because what else can I do?” added her mother, Violet Ward.
 

With files from Laurel Clark, Global News