Trevor Meers has been sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole for 10 years.
A BC Supreme Court judge has ruled Trevor Meers will be eligible for parole after the minimum 10 years of his life sentence for murdering Rayna Johnson in 2015.
Meers has been credited for the four-and-half years he’s already served. The justice cited Meers’ poor health but also took into account the victim’s vulnerability and the fact she was attacked where she should have felt safe, outside her own home.
Fifty-three-year-old Meers was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of the 55-year-old woman back in January. Late on the night of Feb. 3, 2015, after drinking a dozen beers, Meers attacked Johnson with a homemade spear at the Campers Corner RV Park in Ladysmith.
Johnson, a single mother of two adult children, suffered multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead just outside her home. Meers and Johnson both lived at the RV park and knew each other.
At the time, police said the stabbing was after a fight involving several people. What led up to the attack that day isn’t clear but the neighbours had been at odds before. Johnson had reported Meers for driving without a license and Meers was being investigated for welfare fraud, something he suspected Johnson had reported as well. A number of people called 911, including Meers who identified himself as the perpetrator.
Meers admitted to the killing in an agreed statement of fact but the defence had argued that he should be convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, saying that Johnson?s death wasn?t intentional.
“It was clear throughout he was remorseful,” said Stephen Taylor, Meers’ lawyer. “He was the one that called for people to call 911. He in fact called 911 and was fully supportive of the investigation.”
The jury rejected that argument.
Johnson’s siblings said they hope her killer dies in prison.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s not going to bring her back,” said Wendy Macleod, the victim’s sister, when addressing the sentencing. “But he’s in there. He deserves to be in there and I hope he never comes out.”
Macleod said the family will remember the good things.
“My kids will always remember their auntie and love her to pieces and that’s what matters. Tim will always have his mom in his heart,” Macleod said.
Rick Johnson, Rayna Johnson’s brother, said he will forgive Meers at some point.
“Forgiveness is not for him. It’s for me,” Rick said.
CHEK News
