A B.C. man convicted in the 2016 murder of Abbotsford student Letisha Reimer and the injury of another will not be eligible to seek parole for 16 years.
Gabriel Klein was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault of a second victim, whose name is under a publication ban.
The murder conviction brings an automatic life sentence, but a B.C. Supreme Court judge had to determine when Klein will be eligible for parole.
Crown argued Klein should spend at least 18 years behind bars before applying for release, while the defence pushed for 12 years.
Klein also received a seven-year sentence for aggravated assault to be served concurrently.
Klein, who has schizophrenia, applied for a hearing over criminal responsibility as sentencing was set to begin in September and he later testified that he believed he was stabbing a witch and a monster.
Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of the B.C. Supreme Court rejected Klein’s argument that he suffered a mental disorder that made him unable to appreciate the nature of his actions or that they were wrong.
Klein chose not to address the court at Wednesday’s hearing.
–With files from Grace Ke, Simon Little and The Canadian Press
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