Joseph Paul Irving of Saint John has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife and must serve 12 years before becoming eligible for parole.
There was little reaction from Irving himself or from those in the courtroom as the ruling came down at the Court of Queen’s Bench. Justice William Grant says this is a case that can only be described as tragic, adding that not only have Irving’s children lost their mother they have also been deprived of their father.
The prosecution had submitted that Irving serve a minimum of 15 years in jail before he could become eligible for parole saying the fact that he abused is wife is an aggravating factor. The defense was looking for 11 or 12 years saying that Irving has expressed remorse.
In January a jury found Irving guilty of second degree murder in the death of Cynthia Irving, who was found dead in her Carmarthen Street home in March of last year.
