Life sentence for man who killed former partner and her dog in Saskatoon

WARNING: This story contains a murder scene description.

A Saskatoon judge sentenced a man to life in prison for killing his former partner Tanice Roberts and her dog at her home in 2023.

On Tuesday at King's Bench court, Vernon Knorr admitted he killed Roberts two years ago at her Saskatoon home and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He is not eligible for parole until July 2036.

Knorr, 64, has not explained a motive for killing Roberts and is not required to do so before sentencing. Senior Crown prosecutor Aaron Martens said it's unclear "why an amicable meeting turned into a deadly attack" but it is clear this is a case of interpersonal violence.

Justice Mona Dovell accepted a joint sentencing submission from Crown and defence lawyers for a life sentence with no parole for 13 years from Knorr's arrest.

"Domestic violence is a plague in this province and it's not getting better," Martens said in an interview Wednesday.

"Tanice didn't deserve what happened. The hope is that a sentence like this can help show that her life mattered and that domestic violence needs to be condemned and addressed."

The court did hear details of the events before and after the murder and Roberts' cause of death as described in an agreed statement of facts.

Roberts and Knorr separated in 2013 after 32 years of marriage but "they generally remained civil over the years" and exchanged friendly texts in the days before the murder, according to the statement. 

On July 20, 2023, Roberts agreed to a visit from Knorr at her home at 821-10th St. E. in the Broadway neighbourhood. Security camera footage showed Knorr in the area that morning.

Some hours later, Knorr visited his brother near Elbow, Sask. — around 100 km south of Saskatoon — and admits he killed Roberts. His brother and sister-in-law called police to check on Roberts.

Police found Roberts at home

Saskatoon police found Roberts' body at her home's rear entrance, face down in a pool of blood. Two knives were missing from the rack, but one was never recovered.

An autopsy found Roberts suffered numerous skull fractures and some lacerations of the brain. The cause of death was blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries to the head.

Police also found the body of Roberts' dog, a boxer named Gus. The dog was stabbed in the chest and his throat was cut.

RCMP arrested Knorr later that day in Mistusinne, Sask., near Elbow. Officers noticed blood seeping from Knorr's bandaged hand and later learned it was a "puncture wound."

Martens said family and friends submitted 16 victim impact statements to the court ahead of sentencing. They described Roberts as a happy, thriving woman and spoke about the trauma that followed her death, Martens said.

"She was the glue of many friendships, very supportive of her daughters," Martens said, summarizing the statements.

"She affected many lives and her loss is powerfully and deeply felt by family and friends. Her daughters lost both parents that day."

If you're affected by this news, you can look for mental health support through resources in Saskatchewan, or in your province/territory.