Crown asks for 15-17 years before parole in Hay River double homicide

Benedict Corrigal told a Hay River, N.W.T., courtroom today he is sorry for killing two people in the town's highrise apartment building three years ago.

He pleaded guilty in March to stabbing his ex-girlfriend Carol Buggins and her new lover Garfield McPherson 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. 

On June 28, 2012, Corrigal and McPherson were fighting over Buggins at a party in the highrise. Corrigal went to another apartment, where he grabbed a knife. When he went back to the party, Buggins answered the door and he began stabbing her. Corrigal also stabbed McPherson because he was "in the way."

In total, he stabbed Buggins 25 times and McPherson seven times.

Corrigal's lawyer told the judge he couldn't explain why his client did it except that he was in a "drunken impotent rage." Corrigal admitted he acted out of jealousy. He said he aimed for Buggins's heart "so no one could have her."

Corrigal addressed the court at his sentencing hearing, and said he is deeply sorry to the friends and families of the victims for what he did. He said if he could trade places, he wishes it were him that died.

He faces a mandatory life sentence for the murder charge. Crown attorney Marc Lecorre asked the judge to consider 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.

The defence agreed with the Crown's sentencing submission.

Justice Louise Charbonneau is expected to hand down Corrigal's sentence Wednesday.