Wiens gets 13 years

It will be at least 13 years before ex-Mountie Keith Wiens even sniffs the possibility of parole, after he was found guilty earlier this week in the second degree murder of Lynn Kalmring.

BC Supreme Court Justice Geoff Barrow handed down the sentence this morning (Thursday) in a Kelowna court room in front of a gathering of Kalmring’s family, members of the media and curious court workers.

Photo: Castanet Staff

Lynn Kalmring's sister Donna Irwin speaks with reporters outside the Kelowna Courthouse on July 25, 2013.

In his decision, Justice Barrow relayed that the main components he must assess are the circumstances of the crime, the nature of the offence, the character of the accused and the recommendation of the jury.

While reviewing the evidence and how he interrupted it, Justice Barrow told the court he accepted the fact that Kalmring was not a violent person and that she did in fact call her sister (as per Shelley Pertelson’s testimony) only minutes before she was killed. He was also satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Wiens did put the knife in Kalmring’s hand after he shot her.

Justice Barrow then went into greater detail, saying he did not believe Wiens’ testimony and neither did the jury. He pointed out the physical size advantage, Kalmring’s adversity to weapons and other physical evidence (including the position of Kalmring’s left arm when she was found) as evidence that supported Barrow’s decision saying, “the crime was impulsive and born of anger and fueled by alcohol.”

Since Wiens was found guilty of second-degree murder, he must serve life imprisonment with a minimum of 10 years before the possibility of parole as set out by the criminal code. He was also hit with a lifetime weapons ban and must submit to a DNA order.

The jury was unanimous in their decision Tuesday evening that Wiens should serve 20 years without parole, while the crown was seeking 15 years and defence counsel hoped for something in the range of 10-12.

“We’re thrilled! We’ve been waiting for this for two years and he was just sitting there with his head down, still showing no signs of remorse. His family hasn’t come up to us and said they’re sorry,” said Kalmring’s sister Donna Irwin, outside the courthouse.

“He’s got life in prison, where he needs to be. He can’t get parole for at least 13 years, and in 13 years we will be there at that parole hearing to make sure he doesn’t see the light of day.”

Wiens has served the past 18 months in protective custody due to his previous career in the RCMP, meaning he spends between 22 and 23 hours per day inside his jail cell.

“And to feel sorry for him that he’s going to be in protective custody, he should have thought of that before he shot Lynn,” adds Irwin.

“So it’s a good day. We’re all going to sleep well tonight, go back to our homes, try to pick up the pieces and get on with our lives because that’s what Lynn would want.”