vancouver –
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced Zachary Armitage to life in prison without parole for 25 years for the “grotesque” first-degree murder of Martin Payne at his Vancouver Island home.
Judge David Crossin said the killing in July 2019 was “senseless” and “absolutely cowardly, without qualification”.
The trial of co-accused James Lee Bush in November heard that he and Armitage had escaped from William Head Prison and waited for their 60-year-old victim at his Mechosin home before killing him.
Bush was found guilty at trial, while Armitage changed his plea and pleaded guilty to first degree murder.
Just before he was sentenced, Armitage addressed Payne’s family in the courtroom to apologize, saying he was “disgusted” with himself and the pain he had caused.
The court also heard victim impact statements from Payne’s family and loved ones.
His daughter Jessica Payne said: “How could this happen to my dad? He was such a gentle and compassionate man.’
She said she often thinks about the violent way he died.
“It really haunts me.”
Catherine Stewart, the mother of Payne’s children, called him the patriarch of the family and said she did not understand why he had to die in such an “inhuman and evil way”.
Payne’s older sister, Colleen Payne, said he was brutally murdered and did nothing to cause it.
She addressed Armitage during her victim impact statement.
“I sincerely hope you will seek help and try to heal your own inner pain.”
In his statement to Payne’s family, Armitage said he wished he could “take all the pain back”.
“I would give my life for his. I’m sorry. I wish you peace,” he said.
As Armitage left court, he reached out to a family member sitting in the front row, who took his hand.
“Sorry, be careful,” Armitage said.
Bush was sentenced last month to the same life sentence without parole for 25 years, which is automatic for first-degree murder.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 11, 2022.
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