Judge to decide parole eligibility for Nicholas Butcher, Halifax man convicted of killing Kristin Johnston

A judge is expected to release a ruling today on when a Halifax man convicted in the violent death of a Montreal-born businesswoman will be able to apply for parole.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court Judge Joshua Arnold reserved his parole eligibility decision for Nicholas Butcher after a hearing in July.

READ MORE: ‘I wanted to die’: Nicholas Butcher testifies he fatally stabbed Kristin Johnston after being attacked

Butcher was convicted of second-degree murder in April after a jury found he stabbed 32-year-old Kristin Johnston to death on March 26, 2016.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The conviction carries an automatic life sentence, but a hearing was held to determine when Butcher could apply for parole.

2:10 Nicholas Butcher in court for parole hearing

• Nicholas Butcher in court for parole hearing
• Nicholas Butcher jury begins deliberating
• Closing arguments delivered at Nicholas Butcher’s murder trial
• Jury in Nicholas Butcher trial hears 911 call
• Murder victim’s friend faces cross-examination at Nicholas Butcher trial
• Kristin Johnston’s best friend testifies at Nicholas Butcher murder trial
• Nicholas Butcher murder trial opens in Halifax
• Crown finishes opening arguments at Nicholas Butcher murder trial

Previous Video

Next Video

Crown prosecutor Carla Ball argued he should not be allowed to apply for parole for 17 years, noting what she described as Butcher’s “forethought” for confrontation and that Johnston was his domestic partner.

But defence lawyer Peter Planetta said his client should be eligible for parole after 10 years, pointing to mitigating factors such as his clean record and prospects for rehabilitation.