 Sarah Nicole Rae. (QMI Agency File Photo)
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CALGARY — Travis Martel will spend a minimum 12 years behind bars for the jealousy-motivated murder of his girlfriend.
Justice Peter McIntyre on Tuesday rejected calls by Crown prosecutor Gord Wong to set Martel's parole ineligibility as high as 19 years.
Martel, 36, was convicted last week of second-degree murder in the Aug. 3, 2008, stabbing death of Sarah Rae in the northeast condo they shared.
McIntyre said the most egregious fact in the killing was Martel's attempts to cover his tracks after the killing maintaining for nearly two months that someone else did it.
He finally admitted involvement, although he claimed the stabbing was accidental, when police presented him with damning video he had taken of Rae's dying breaths - evidence Martel deleted from his cell phone before it was retrieved by a forensics expert.
Before sentencing Martel offered an apology to his victims, one which rang hollow to Rae's dad, Gordon.
"His actions speak louder than words," Rae said.
"I don't think he is sorry."
While Martel will be able to seek parole after 12 years he will serve a life sentence.
kevin.martin@sunmedia.ca
