Family still haunted by violent last moments of slain Yellow Grass mother as killer sentenced

A man from southeast Saskatchewan has pleaded guilty to killing his common-law partner more than three years ago.

Kevin Okafor, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Abbie Speir at Regina's Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday.

The plea comes with an automatic sentence of life imprisonment. A judge determined Thursday he won't be eligible for parole until 2033, 16 years after he was taken into custody.

Speir, a mother of three children, was found dead in Yellow Grass, Sask., in April 2017.

Court heard Thursday that after an incident where Okafor had punched Speir in the face, she wanted to end their relationship, but he wanted to salvage it.

The day before Speir was set to move to a new home, Okafor showed up at her house and began trying to talk to her about the relationship. They argued and Okafor grabbed a large knife. 

Court heard that Okafor stabbed Speir 55 times. He then set fire to the basement and left. 

Police eventually arrested him after a chase along Highway 1.

Family give victim impact statements

Several of Speir's family members delivered victim impact statements at the sentencing. Her mother, father, two sisters and brother all addressed the court, and Okafor. Speir's neighbour, who found her body, also delivered a statement. 

Joan McDonald, Speir's mother, said she had become a shadow of the person she was, and that her grief and sorrow have been immense.

Wondering about her daughter's last moments haunts her. 

"Was she terrified? Was she angry?" McDonald said in court Thursday. 

McDonald recalled her daughter as someone who loved high heels, fresh sheet day and ripple chips. She was opinionated, sarcastic and hardworking, McDonald said.

Although Okafor took Speir's physical body, her mother said he didn't take the memories and love the family shares for her. 

Family members also talked about Speir's love of being a mom.

Her twin sister, Leah Perrault, described the pain of losing her sibling, but also the pain and sense of betrayal that come from the fact Okafor was also a family member.

"We saw your heart," she said to Okafor. "[We] lost all the best parts of you."

She said he took murder out of the realm of the imaginary and made it a terrible collective reality for the family. Perrault said she will spend the rest of her life trying to forgive Okafor. 

Okafor also addressed the court. He apologized to Speir's family for the pain he caused, and said there's no explanation or excuse for what he did.

It's a pain no parent should have to go through, he said.