Honduran man gets life with parole in brutal murder of common-law spouse

CTV News

4 days ago

A Honduran immigrant received a life sentence in court on Tuesday in the brutal killing of his common-law spouse, Shermaine Carling.
The incident took place on Sept. 29, 2022.
41-year-old David Espinoza Montes had already pled guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Carling, who was 33 years old at the time.
Justice Joseph Perfetto considered a joint submission on sentencing and agreed to a period of parole ineligibility of 12 years, starting from the date of the offence.
'I'm happy for the family that there's finality in this matter and my thoughts and prayers go out to them,' said assistant Crown attorney, Nicole Stortini.
Espinoza Montes, who has no prior record, sat quietly in the courtroom as Justice Perfetto shared the sentence in his over an hour-long hearing.
The judge shared with the court how the brutal attack saw Espinoza Montes stab Carling 48 times with a knife and a pair of scissors in a friend's house.
Justice Perfetto characterized the incident as an act of intimate partner violence after Espinoza Montes became jealous and acted in a fit of rage.
'His Honour gave incredibly detailed reasons,' said Jayme Lesperance, assistant Crown attorney.
'It was very thorough. It followed all the jurisprudence that (Stortini) argued in front of him.'
Justice Perfetto noted he carefully considered the victim impact statements.
'Which in my view speaks to the devastation of Mr. Espinoza Montes' offending,' he said.
He took into account the statement from Carling's sister, who wrote how simple tasks are hard to undertake and that both of Carling's children have withdrawn from school because of the emotional anguish.
He read a passage from the statement as Espinoza Montes listened.
'Losing her is such a betrayal at the hands of someone who she trusted has shattered our sense of safety and left an ache that seems impossible to heal. No words can fully express how empty our hearts feel without her,' he said.
The emotional loss is coupled with the financial loss as Carling sent money home to the Philippines to care for her two children and family.
'We have been talking to the family,' Stortini said.
'Victim Services has also been engaging with the family a lot as well. They want to move forward in this matter, and they are still grieving.'
Justice Perfetto said Espinoza Montes had applied for refugee status after his work visa expired and, at the time of the offence, was subject to immigration hearings. He pointed out neither the Crown nor defence discussed immigration status in their joint submission.
'I've got no idea what's going to happen with immigration,' Lesperance said.
'That's entirely out of the scope of our work. What the parole group chooses to do based on their algorithm and assessment is entirely up to them.'
Justice Perfetto closed the hearing by addressing Carling's family, who joined through Zoom, saying, 'I hope as time passes you find healing and peace.'