Man gets life for ex-girlfriend's murder as judge weighs Maplehurst rights violations
The case is one of dozens affected by alleged violations of Maplehurst Correctional Complex inmates' rights during their incarceration at the facility in Milton, Ont.
Court heard that Linval Ritchie broke into a basement apartment in Brampton, Ont., where Vanessa Virgioni lived with their seven-year-old son in the early morning of June 18, 2022.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Jennifer Woollcombe recounted in her ruling that Ritchie killed the 29-year-old woman by trying to decapitate her.
He was arrested later that day and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder two years later.
The defence for Ritchie asked the court to consider his treatment at Maplehurst in the sentencing, and asked that his parole ineligibility period be shortened to 10 years.
An agreed statement of facts in the case states that crisis intervention staff responded to an inmate's assault on a correctional officer in December 2023 by conducting strip searches of the inmates in Ritchie's unit and placing zip ties on their wrists.
Court heard Ritchie was left wearing only his boxer shorts for approximately 37 hours.
Woollcombe said during her ruling on Thursday that some of Ritchie's Charter rights were violated during the incident but she rejected the request to shorten parole ineligibility to 10 years.
The killing of Virgioni is 'factually one of the most gruesome and horrific second-degree murder cases' she has encountered during her decade of experience as a judge, Woollcombe said.
She said the ineligibility period should be 20 to 22 years based on the circumstances of the case, but that she would reduce the ineligibility period to 18 years because of the rights violations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
15 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. lawsuit accuses Buddhist monk of abusing boy after mother granted guardianship
VANCOUVER – A lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court alleges a boy who was placed in the care of a Buddhist monk was subjected to years of abuse while living at a Vancouver temple. The lawsuit that seeks damages says the child was six when their mother, a Vietnamese refugee, assigned legal guardianship to the defendant monk and the boy was sent to live at the Chan Quang Temple in East Vancouver in 2003. The notice of civil claim filed last week says the monk allegedly subjected the child to 'polytraumatic abuse,' including burning him with boiling water, striking him with percussion mallet, whipping him with sticks and force-feeding the child until the point of sickness with salt, soy sauce and blueberries. It says the child was hospitalized after the defendant monk allegedly stomped on his abdomen and ruptured his stomach, but the plaintiff claims he was 'coached' to blame the injury on his brother, who also lived at the temple as a novice monk. The lawsuit says that after the boy was hospitalized for three weeks in 2005 he was placed into foster care and a police investigation began, but there were no charges because the boy protected the monk and the temple 'as he was groomed to do.' The allegations have not been tested in court and neither the monk nor the temple have filed responses to the claim, while calls to the temple went unanswered. The lawsuit dated Aug. 13 says the boy was sent back to his mother after foster care. The legal action seeks damages against the monk for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and against the society that runs the temple for allegedly failing to report the monk's 'abusive propensities.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Longueuil police investigate suspicious death in cemetery
The Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) is investigating a suspicious death at a cemetery in the Saint-Hubert sector Sunday. Police officers arrived at the cemetery on Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier Boulevard to assist firefighters with a vehicle on fire responded shortly after 9 a.m. One person was found dead inside the vehicle, said SPAL spokesperson Jacqueline Pierre. Moments later, patrol officers apprehended a suspect in the area. The man, in his 40s, was being held at the police station early this afternoon where he was to be interviewed by major crimes investigators. An investigation is underway. Traffic is being disrupted on Sir Wilfrid Laurier Boulevard, which is closed between Marquis Park and Édouard Boulevard. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French August 17, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Woman who was missing found with boat in B.C., search for man continues
NANAIMO – A woman who was reported missing last week has been found along with the vessel she was on but Mounties in British Columbia say they are still looking for her partner. Nanaimo RCMP say the woman and the man were last heard from on July 20 and the man's family reported him missing on Aug. 13. They were sailing on a white boat called the Calliope. The RCMP says today it has located the 33-year-old woman and the boat after receiving several tips from the public. But the search for the 30-year-old man continues. Mounties say the woman was found safe and sound but they are concerned for the man's wellbeing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2025.
