Manitoba man who killed his partner, 2 children sentenced to life, no parole before 16 years

WINNIPEG — A man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of his common-law wife and their two children must serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 16 years.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Chris Martin accepted a joint recommendation from Crown and defense lawyers at Trevis McLeod’s sentencing hearing in Winnipeg.

Shantelle Murphy, 32, Isabella Murphy, six, and Mason Murphy, three, were found dead in the family’s duplex in Portage la Prairie, west of Winnipeg, on April 10, 2022.

Firefighters were first called to the home after neighbors reported the unit was on fire, and later found the three victims dead in two bedrooms upstairs.

The court heard the woman and children suffered significant blunt force trauma to their head and body.

Martin told the court it was one of the worst cases he had faced in his career and nothing would take away the shock and pain.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 24, 2024.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press