A Richmond woman who bludgeoned her husband to death should spend 12 years behind bars before she can apply for parole, a prosecutor argued Friday.
In March, a B.C. Supreme Court jury found Jo Anne Alexander, 63, guilty of the January 2012 second-degree murder of John Alexander, 61.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 years of parole ineligibility.
The issue at the sentencing hearing Friday was whether the mother of two should receive more parole ineligibility than the 10-year minimum.
Crown counsel Jeremy Hermanson argued that the circumstances of the offence - in which she had struck her defenceless husband over the head at least three times with a baseball bat or a hammer - called for an increase beyond the minimum.
He noted that John Alexander, who suffered from depression, was "very vulnerable" since he was convalescing from surgery at the time and was attacked in his own bed.
He argued that his wife's actions were a breach of trust since she was caring for him at the time.
Court heard that the couple had been under severe financial distress, were living off the proceeds from the sale of their home and had to borrow from friends and family.
In one letter to her family, an apparently suicidal Alexander said the couple was facing "financial ruin" and that her husband didn't get it, so she was taking him with him.
Hermanson argued that while Alexander was his caregiver, it was not a case of a mercy killing since her husband was not suicidal and was hoping that his health would improve.
"John Alexander had no say, he had no voice in (her) decision," to kill him, he told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Jeanne Watchuk.
Hermanson said there were elements of forethought that went into the murder and that it was not an impulsive act.
But Jeff Campbell, a lawyer for the accused, said while it might be argued there was forethought, an argument could also be made that his client had acted on the spur of the moment.
He said that prior to the slaying, there was no evidence of an abusive relationship, the couple had been married for 40 years and letters of support indicated she cared for and was dedicated to her husband.
Campbell said it was "unusual" in a murder case that there were no victim impact statements filed by the Crown and that Alexander's family all supported her.
He said the couple's two adult children were in court and read from a letter written by the daughter, who said her mom had protected them and given them all the love a child could ask for.
Campbell, who noted that the jury recommended that Alexander get the 10-year minimum, told the judge that the minimum of 10 years was the appropriate sentence.
Alexander, who came into court blowing kisses at her two children and several other supporters in the public gallery, declined an invitation by the judge to address the court.
The judge will impose her sentence on Alexander on Tuesday.
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