A man will spend a total of 12.5 years in jail in connection with the violent death of his wife in 2019.
Dewayne Vacciana pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a Belleville court Monday.
His 54-year-old wife Terri-Lynn Thompson was beaten and died of a stab wound to the neck in their Cannifton Road apartment on October 15, 2019.
Vacciana, a native of Jamaica, was 38 years old at the time of the incident.
Vacciana was originally charged with second degree murder.
By pleading guilty to manslaughter, he admits to committing domestic homicide but not to intentionally causing Terrie Lynn Thompson’s death.
In a joint submission to the court from Crown attorneys Paul Layefsky and Monica Rodrigues and defence counsel Tyler Smith and Joanne Griffiths, Justice Patrick Hurley heard Vacciana was facing removal from the country as his work visa had expired in 2017.
Vacciana falsely believed that Thompson was the reason Immigration became aware his visa had expired.
After babysitting Thompson’s grandsons in the morning, the two returned to their apartment where, according to Vacciana, they argued and he killed her.
Vacciana then left the apartment.
Thompson was found by her son and daughter-in-law a few hours later.
Vacciana was arrested early the next day.
While in custody, he admitted to killing his wife.
In court on Monday, Vacciana made a statement saying he deeply regrets his actions and the pain he has caused her family.
Several victim impact statements were read by Thompson’s son, daughter-in-law, niece and others, all condemning Vacciana’s actions for taking away such a beloved member of their family.
Justice Hurley called it a senseless and brutal domestic homicide, and said no sentence would be adequate to reflect the loss for Thompson’s family, but accepted the sentencing recommendation in the joint submission.
Vacciana was given 1.5 times credit for his 3.8 years of pre-trial custody resulting in 5.5 years already served and will spend a further seven years in jail.
He is under a DNA order and an order not to contact several people including members of Thompson’s family.
He will be facing deportation upon his release.
