Benedict Corrigal gets life without parole for 17 years

Benedict Corrigal has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years for the murder of Carol Buggins in Hay River, N.W.T., three years ago.

He'll also serve a concurrent sentence of eight years for the manslaughter of Garfield McPherson. 

Justice Louise Charbonneau handed down her decision in Hay River today. 

Corrigal pleaded guilty in March to stabbing his ex-girlfriend and her new lover to death at the Mackenzie Place apartments in 2012. He was convicted of second-degree murder in Buggins's death and manslaughter in McPherson's. 

In a sentencing hearing yesterday, Corrigal admitted he acted out of jealousy, aiming for Buggins's heart "so no one could have her." He stabbed McPherson because he was "in the way."

Justice Charbonneau called the crime an extreme manifestation of spousal abuse.

Peter Harte, Corrigal's lawyer, said his client lost his soul in a bottle of alcohol and that's how he finds himself in the situation he's in today.

But the judge told the court alcohol was not at the heart of what lead to the killing of Buggins and McPherson.

She said Corrigal had an unhealthy sense of possession of Carol Buggins and that he wanted to control her at all costs.

The judge said she hopes he uses prison as an opportunity to heal.

A conviction for murder carries a mandatory life sentence.

Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre had asked that Corrigal not be eligible for parole for 15 to 17 years. 

Lecorre also asked that he serve a seven- to eight-year sentence for the manslaughter charge at the same time.