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 Larry Ryan. (File photo) |
TORONTO - A retired Toronto Police officer has been convicted of killing his wife and will stay behind bars until he's at least 70.
A jury found Larry Ryan guilty of second-degree murder in a Brampton, Ont., court Monday.
Immediately afterward, Judge Joseph Fragomeni sentenced the 60-year-old to the mandatory life in prison for the slaying of his wife, Susan Ryan, 57.
All that remains now is for the judge to determine the convicted killer's parole eligibility, ranging from 10 years to 25 years.
The victim, a well respected realtor, was found shot to death in a pool of blood on the floor of the couple's Mississauga home on Nov. 9, 2008.
But there was never any question of who killed the woman.
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In testimony delivered during his trial, the jury heard how Larry Ryan was suppose to go on a hunting trip with a friend that morning.
Instead, he unlocked a .22-calibre rifle, loaded it, pointed the barrel at his wife of 36 years as she made breakfast and then squeezed the trigger four times.
Larry had admitted he was guilty of manslaughter during the trial.
Manslaughter implies killing someone unintentionally, whereas second-degree murder is intentional, but unplanned.
James Burke, the lawyer for the defence, claimed his client was so drunk that he had no clue what he was doing.
But the Crown, John Rafferty, argued that the former cop knew exactly what he was doing and that he only got drunk after killing his wife.