Dr. Tweedie

The offender pleaded guilty to second degree murder and arson after breaking into the apartment of a pregnant woman to steal her underwear.

When discovered, he brutally murdered the victim and subsequently set the apartment on fire to destroy evidence.

The court weighed the extreme brutality of the unprovoked attack, the vulnerability of the pregnant victim, and the severe post-offence conduct against the offender's guilty plea and lack of prior record.

The court sentenced the offender to life imprisonment with a 22-year period of parole ineligibility for the murder, and a concurrent 5-year sentence for arson.

The applicant father and respondent mother separated after a 13-year marriage.

The mother, who was the primary caregiver and suffered from severe medical disabilities, sought ongoing spousal support, child support, and section 7 expenses.

The father argued he could not afford the support and disputed certain expenses.

The court found the mother entitled to indefinite spousal support on both compensatory and need bases, ordering the father to pay $1,891 monthly.

The court also ordered the father to pay ongoing child support, his share of section 7 expenses including cell phones and YMCA memberships, and outstanding arrears from a prior consent order.