Alberta man murdered girlfriend then blamed her in misogynistic suicide letter, court hears in plea
Ross McInnes, 30, beat and fatally strangled his girlfriend Kirsten Gardner in 2021
WARNING: This article contains graphic content of domestic violence and murder.
After Ross McInnes beat and strangled his girlfriend, he wrote a suicide note, blaming the 25-year-old mother of toddler twins for her own death and wrote: "I would do it again."
"What I have done is wrong but good I took someone truly evil with me," wrote McInnes.
On Monday, set to be the first day of a three-week first-degree murder jury trial, McInnes pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Kirsten Lea Gardner, who was killed in her Bowden, Alta., apartment in March 2021.
Details of the crime come from an agreed statement of facts (ASF) read aloud in court by prosecutor Britta Kristensen.
Gardner and McInnes dated over a seven-month period in 2020 and 2021. But their relationship was on-again, off-again with McInnes sleeping on Gardner's sofa at the time of her death.
The night of the murder, Gardner, who was a nurse, worked a shift at the Red Deer Hospital.
While she was at work, McInnes got drunk on a bottle of rum.
Injuries covered entire body
Gardner got off shift at 10 p.m., changed out of her scrubs and headed home.
At some point over the next several hours, McInnes attacked Gardner.
He beat every part of her body and then strangled her.
An autopsy showed injuries to Gardner's eyes, cheeks, jaw, nose, lips, head, neck, chest, breast, shoulders, back, arms, wrists, thighs, knees and ankles.
McInnes left his girlfriend's body slumped over a child's bed in her apartment for hours.
Suicide letter
In the morning, he texted a friend and his employer, telling them his "girlfriend passed away."
He then drove to Costco and bought apples, Advil and sleeping pills.
At some point that day, McInnes consumed bottles of sleeping pills, ibuprofen and rum in an attempt to kill himself.
He later experienced symptoms of psychosis and hallucinations from the overdose, according to the ASF.
McInnes then penned his suicide letter, which prosecutor Ryan Ziegler described as containing a "string of misogyny."
"Yes, we were arguing tonight," wrote McInnes. "I defended myself and I took it too far."
"The law is very unfair, it favours women regardless if the man is innocent or guilty."
'I just got angry'
McInnes called 911 and told the operator he "lost his temper" with Gardner.
It was just after 6 p.m. when EMS arrived.
The killer told paramedics; "I just got angry, I didn't mean to do it, I just got angry."
Police showed up and arrested McInnes for murder. Shortly after, he was taken to hospital and treated for anticholinergic toxicity after he began hallucinating.
"Women are still not safe in their own homes," said Ziegler.
During his sentencing submissions, defence lawyer Tim Foster told the court his client is remorseful.
"He has regretted it since the beginning and he has shown that remorse by attempting to kill himself."
Killer called a 'coward'
Several members of Gardner's family wrote victim impact statements.
Christina Ramage told the court that she plays videos of Gardner over and over again so she can hear her daughter's voice again.
Ramage addressed McInnes directly, calling him a "coward."
Gardner's sons "don't understand where mommy went, why she never picked them up," said Ramage.
"You took away their whole life."
Two of Gardner's sisters also wrote statements.
"I hope and pray that what you did haunts you every day for the rest of your existence," wrote Ashley Christoffersen.
"I wish nothing but the worst of you, Ross."
At the end of the day, Justice Eamon handed McInnes a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years after a joint submission from prosecutors Kristensen and Ziegler, and defence lawyer Foster.
"Kirsten Gardner invited you into her home," said Eamon. "Your response to her generous spirit was to kill her."
For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.
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