John Brittain, the man who pleaded guilty to a mass shooting that killed four Penticton residents last year, took the stand as sentencing submissions concluded today (Oct. 15) offering a brief explanation of his actions and an apology to those impacted by them.
Brittain pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree and one count of second-degree murder yesterday (Oct. 14) in a Kelowna courtroom for the murders of four of his ex-wife Kathrine Brittain91裸聊视频檚 neighbours 91裸聊视频� Susan and Barry Wonch, Rudi Winter and Darlene Knippelberg, all of whom were in their 60s and 70s 91裸聊视频� on April 15, 2019.
He told the court he had no idea that day would turn into such a tragedy for three families, himself, his ex-wife and the City of Penticton.
91裸聊视频淚 tragically disrupted so many lives,91裸聊视频� he told Justice Allison Beames between long pauses as sobs poured from the families sitting in the courtroom91裸聊视频檚 gallery.
Four work-related burnouts and several major depressions were, as Brittain described, the 91裸聊视频渂asis of the catastrophe91裸聊视频� that led to a deteriorating physical and mental health. This resulted in a final mental breakdown that saw him snap, killing the four neighbours who he said 91裸聊视频渂ullied91裸聊视频� his ex-wife.
91裸聊视频淚 reacted to images and threats that were not real.91裸聊视频�
Brittain addressed the court to offer direct apologies to his ex-wife, the families of the victims and the emergency personnel.
Speaking directly to the families of the victims, Brittain said he was 91裸聊视频渟hattered and devastated91裸聊视频� over what he91裸聊视频檚 done.
91裸聊视频淚 have no understanding of what caused me to lose all restraint and perspective, which resulted in their untimely and tragic death,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 also apologize for the stain I have put on the name of the city of Penticton and contributing to the unnecessary anxiety of its citizens.91裸聊视频�
Lastly, Brittain apologized to emergency responders who were the first to see the gruesome scenes he left in his trail.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 sure what you saw and had to deal with that day was not what you ever wanted to see when you entered your professions.
91裸聊视频淚 see these images in my head. They will torment me for the rest of my life. It is my wish you will be healed and not further traumatized by this event.91裸聊视频�
Both first- and second-degree murder convictions carry a life sentence. A prisoner serving time for first-degree murder must wait 25 years before applying for parole and between 10 and 25 years for second-degree murder. The Crown is seeking those sentences to be served consecutively, amounting to 40 years before Brittain would be eligible for parole.
READ MORE: Penticton man killed ex-wife91裸聊视频檚 4 neighbours to stop them from 91裸聊视频榖ullying91裸聊视频� her
Brittain91裸聊视频檚 defence lawyer, Paul McMurray is seeking all sentences to be served concurrently, which would see Brittain serve the minimum 25 years prior to parole eligibility. McMurray91裸聊视频檚 argued the killings, which took place in the span of 35 minutes, shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be treated as separate incidents and as such shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be sentenced consecutively. He noted that Brittain would be, at the youngest, 92 years old when he becomes eligible for parole 91裸聊视频� and having that release granted would be a whole new unlikely hurdle to jump.
McMurray argued Brittain91裸聊视频檚 guilty plea saved the exposure of several wounds being reopened and publicized.
91裸聊视频淚t would91裸聊视频檝e laid bare a lot of personal issues,91裸聊视频� McMurray submitted.
McMurray described Brittain as a man of education, holding an engineering degree and a project management diploma. He lived and worked across Canada and as far as Africa.
However, a psychological report provided to the court indicated those living situations may have had a detrimental effect on Brittain91裸聊视频檚 personal life contributing to his feeling of social isolation.
Attempting to provide some insight into Brittain91裸聊视频檚 mindset at the time of the killings, McMurray described Brittain91裸聊视频檚 profession as an engineer as one of problem-solving and fixing things.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 fair to say that dealing with problems as an engineer, as a scientist, things are capable of being fixed,91裸聊视频� McMurray said. 91裸聊视频淏ut dealing with relationships and relationships with other people, dealing with human beings who are not always subject to fixing, requires a different skillset 91裸聊视频� one that it91裸聊视频檚 fair to say, Mr. Brittain was lacking.91裸聊视频�
McMurray suggested that Brittain was trying to solve his ex-wife91裸聊视频檚 neighbour problems, and felt that all other options besides killing them were taken off the table.
91裸聊视频淣ow of course he was wrong, there were other options,91裸聊视频� McMurray said. 91裸聊视频淏ut in his state of mind, he did not see it.91裸聊视频�
BC Supreme Court Justice Allison Beames said she91裸聊视频檇 like to give her decision today. She will be back at 3:15 p.m. when she will either deliver her sentence or schedule another time to do so.
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