Benedict Corrigal pleads guilty in Hay River highrise killings
Charged in deaths of Carol Buggins and Garfield McPherson in 2012
Benedict Corrigal pleaded guilty last week to killing two people at the Mackenzie Place highrise in Hay River in 2012.
Corrigal was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Carol Buggins and Garfield McPherson.
Shortly after the initial charges were laid, the charge for McPherson's death was downgraded to second degree murder. In October 2014, the charges were downgraded again, to second degree murder for Buggins' death and manslaughter for McPherson's.
Corrigal pleaded guilty to the reduced charges, ending nearly three years of court proceedings.
Court records show that Corrigal had a violent relationship with Buggins. He was convicted and sent to jail three times in two years for assaulting her prior to her death.
Justice Louise Charbonneau is expected to hand down Corrigal's sentence May 12.