A Terrace man convicted of the second-degree murder of a Kitimat woman has been sentenced to life in prison and will not have the chance to get out of jail until he’s in his 30s.
Tyler Scott Eli, 22, was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for 12 years for the murder of Maria Rego as ordered by Mister Justice Robert Punnett in Terrace Supreme Court March 25.
“I do not find that he is not remorseful but I am of the view that he requires counselling and assistance to properly understand what he has done,” said Punnett in sentencing Eli.
The murder and attempted murder were particularly egregious with no motive, understanding or reasoning and were against two innocent people asleep in their home, said Punnett.
On October 9, 2011, around 7 a.m., Kitimat RCMP were called to a residence in the Whitesail area for an alleged break and enter with assault, whereby officers found a man and woman, who had been assaulted and were in need of immediate medical help, said police in a release at that time.
Both went to hospital in Kitimat where the woman died from her injuries and the man had surgery and was listed in stable condition, reported police.
A 19-year-old man was arrested nearby without incident, said police.
Kitimat RCMP, North District Major Crimes, Forensic Identification, Regional GIS (major cases) and E Division Serious Crime Unit were brought in to investigate.
Eli’s trial took place over periods of time in May, June and August, 2014.
On November 5, 2014, Punnett found Eli guilty of second degree murder, attempted murder and the break and enter. A charge of aggravated assault was stayed by the court.
This past January saw a two-day sentencing hearing for Eli at which time Gualter Rego read an emotional victim impact statement to the court.
Crown had asked for no chance of parole for 12 to 15 years, while defence had asked that Eli’s rehabilitation be taken into consideration because of his young age, said Punnett.
Punnett was satisfied that a period of parole ineligibility must be more than 10 years.
For a second degree murder conviction, the minimum period of parole ineligibility is 10 years and the maximum is 25 years.
