Martin Payne

• Escaped inmate who admitted to killing B.C. man gets life in prison

  Zachary Armitage pleaded guilty to first-degree murder halfway through his trial, alongside co-accused James Lee Busch, who was sentenced in mid-December.

  Crime

  Jan 11
  
• Life sentence for one of 2 fugitives convicted of killing Metchosin, B.C. man

  A 12-member jury found Busch guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday. His co-accused, Zachary Armitage, pleaded guilty to the same halfway through the trial.

  Crime

  Dec 15, 2022
  
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• Jury finds 1 B.C. fugitive guilty of murder, 2nd escapee revealed to have pleaded guilty

  Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch escaped from a Vancouver Island prison in July, 2019 and were accused of killing a Vancouver Island man the day after their prison break.

  Crime

  Dec 14, 2022
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• Defence lawyer in murder trial of escaped B.C. inmate points to lack of blood spatter

  Sixty-year-old Martin Payne was killed on July 8, 2019, a day after Busch and Zachary Armitage walked away from William Head Institution in Metchosin on southern Vancouver Island.

  Crime

  Dec 13, 2022
• Crown argues escaped inmates were ‘inseparable’ in final arguments at B.C. murder trial

  The Crown has argued Martin Payne was killed in his Metchosin home after returning from his job as a mail carrier in Victoria the day after the suspects escaped from prison.

  Crime

  Dec 12, 2022
• DNA evidence presented in 3rd week of high-profile B.C. prison escape murder trial

  Martin Payne was found dead in his bathroom on July. 12, 2019, a pool of blood by his head, and duct tape binding his arm and leg.

  Crime

  Dec 2, 2022
• Trial ends for 1 of 2 suspects in high-profile B.C. prison escape murder trial

  Justice David Crossin told jurors this week that while evidence against both suspects will continue to be presented, only one of their trials will continue.

  Crime

  Nov 30, 2022
• B.C. homicide victim’s daughters remember ‘caring, compassionate’ dad as trial continues

  Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are accused of murdering Martin Payne in 2019 the day after they escaped from a minimum-security prison on Vancouver Island.

  Crime

  Nov 18, 2022
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• Inmate sought money and a ride after B.C. prison breakout, murder trial hears

  Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 60-year-old Martin Payne on July 8, 2019.

  Crime

  Nov 17, 2022
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• Searches for free porn, prison escape news logged on B.C. homicide victim’s computer, jury hears

  Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 60-year-old Martin Payne on July 8,  2019.

  Crime

  Nov 16, 2022