A jury has found Jeffrey Friesen of Abbotsford guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Leanne.
The verdict was delivered Thursday afternoon in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster and comes with an automatic life sentence.
The 10-person jury began deliberations Monday afternoon.
Friesen, 44, was arrested and charged after Leanne’s body was found by police on the evening of Feb. 6, 2013 – the day after she had been killed – in the garage of the couple’s home on Cassiar Court in Abbotsford.
She had been shot twice in her torso by a double-barrelled sawed-off shotgun.
Friesen admitted to shooting and killing Leanne, 40, but defence laywer Lisa Jean Helps argued that he was in a “dissociative state” at the time and should be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.
Friesen testified during the trial, which began in mid-November, that he had suffered from depression and “memory gaps.”
The Crown argued that Friesen should be found guilty of second-degree murder and that he intended to kill Leanne because he was upset their marriage was ending and he didn’t want to see her with any other men.
A date will now be set for the judge to rule on Friesen’s parole eligibility, which can range from 10 to 25 years.
