Donovan Penner of Sechelt has been sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 10 years for the murder of his mother.
Sixty-seven-year-old Esme LaChance was found dead at her Selma Park home on Oct. 1, 2014. Penner was arrested later that same day.
Penner originally pleaded not guilty, but changed that plea to guilty of second-degree murder on Feb. 19, midway through the trial.
The sentence handed down in Vancouver Supreme Court Feb. 26 followed the recommendations of a joint submission by the Crown and defence, and Crown Counsel Marion West said they’re satisfied the sentence, the minimum in cases of second-degree murder, was appropriate.
LaChance’s husband, David LaChance, provided a victim impact statement.
Crown made the case that Penner had mental health issues and argued frequently with LaChance, who was killed by several blows to the head.
Penner, who’d been living at his mother’s home, said in a statement to RCMP that he had been drinking that day and has no recollection of what happened.
West said the pathologist’s report and forensic evidence suggested the fatal blows were delivered by a set of dumbbells found at the scene.
Because he’s been in custody since the crime, Penner will be eligible for parole in 2024. If he’s released he will face a lifetime firearms prohibition as well as any conditions set by the parole board.
