Menu

Topics

Connect

Comments

Comments closed.

Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.

Please see our Commenting Policy for more.

Foerster sentenced for Van Diest murder

WATCH ABOVE: Matthew Foerster, the man who murdered an Armstrong teen on Halloween 2011, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years. Seventeen years is what both Crown and defence recommended to the judge. However, as Megan Turcato explains, Foerster could apply for parole in 2029, 11 years from now – Jun 5, 2018

The man accused of killing an Okanagan teenager in 2011 was sentenced to life with no eligibility for parole for 17 years.

Story continues below advertisement

On Monday in Vernon Supreme Court, Crown and defence made a joint submission regarding the murder of Taylor Van Diest, asking that her killer, Matthew Foerster, be sentenced to life with no eligibility to apply for parole for 17 years. On Tuesday, the justice agreed, meaning Foerster will not be eligible to apply for parole until April 4, 2029. That date will be 17 years after he was arrested.

WATCH BELOW: Outside the court house Taylor Van Diest’s mother spoke to reporters about the decision. Watch the extended interview below.

WATCH BELOW: An extended interview with Crown counsel Christopher McPherson who told reporters, this time, Matthew Foerster cannot appeal.

Van Diest, 18, was found beaten near railroad tracks in Armstrong on Halloween night in 2011. Dressed as a zombie, she died later in hospital.

Story continues below advertisement

While walking along the tracks, Van Diest was texting, with the last text stating she was being creeped. Foerster strangled Van Diest with a shoestring and used a heavy flashlight to hit her on the back of her head several times.

The judge called the killing of Van Diest horrific and said the loss to her family was incalculable.

Foerster had been convicted of first-degree murder in April 2014, but was granted a new trial on appeal because of mistakes by the trial judge. He then pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

– with files from Megan Turcato

Advertisement

You are viewing an Accelerated Mobile Webpage.

View Original Article