december 15th, 2006 › the trial of michael white › deadmonton 2005 › deadmonton › edmonton

Liana White, 29, was stabbed to death July 12th, 2005.

Michael White, 29, has been found guilty of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body.

<< december 13th, 2006 | the michael white trial | january 11th, 2007 >>
remembering liana white | the real michael white | the Vegreville Observer article

Justice Mary Moreau of Court of Queen's Bench sentenced Michael White to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.

The parole eligibilty term was two years more than the jury recommended but less than the twenty years sought by the Crown.

Defence lawyers had suggested White serve only fourteen years before being allowed to apply for parole.

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White nodded, sat down in the prisoner's box and looked down at his hands as Moreau read the sentence.

“The crime was brutal and callous,” Moreau said, “with signs of struggle evident on the body by way of defensive wounds along with non-fatal penetration wounds, at least one of them sustained prior to death.”

“While there are prospects of rehabilitation based on his lack of prior related record and the willingness of his family members to stand behind him, the court must express in unmistakable terms society’s abhorrence for this, the most reprehensible and extreme form of domestic violence.”

"Mr. White committed the ultimate act of spousal abuse, while occupying a position of trust."

"Mr. White left the body without dignity in death, stripped naked in a ditch, exposed to the ravages of insects and scavenging animals."

"Mr. White attempted to cover up his crime by staging a crime scene around the abandoned Explorer, attempting to dispose of a garbage bag that contained the evidence of his crime, lying to police, leading search parties and enlisting the support of the media in public appeals."

"Mr. White's offences wrought shock, grief and anger in those who were close to Liana White."

"Mr. White has deprived his young and vulnerable child of her mother."

“Liana White was four months’ pregnant, a fact within Mr. White’s knowledge at the time.”

The Justice noted the emotional victim impact statement by Liana's mother, Maureen Kelly, and how she must now cope with raising Ashley.

Moreau cited several mitigating factors that formed part of her sentencing decision: that White was a contributing member of society while working as a mechanic, had the support of family members and at 29 was a relatively young offender.

Michael White will be eligible for parole in 2022 when he will be 45 years of age.

The final decision on his release will be up to the National Parole Board.

White was in jail between July 18th and October 7th, 2005 when bail was granted. He has been in custody since February 22nd, 2006 when the bail was revoked. That time has been considered as part of his sentence.

There was no word from defence lawyers whether White would appeal either the verdict or the sentencing terms. He has 30 days within which to decide, effective immediately.

White did not ask to be sent to a particular facility for incarceration. It was believed he would be first sent to the Edmonton Maximum prison where he would likely be placed in protective custody.

Standing in a grey suit with clasped hands, White simply nodded at Moreau before he was led from the courtroom.

Outside court several of Liana White's friends told media they were somewhat disappointed with the final decision.

They said they accepted the sentence, but were hoping for a little more.

"It would have been nicer to see the 20," said co-worker and nurse Kelli Montero. "The 17, we'll accept that. But it seems a little short."

Describing White's alleged suicide attempt Montero said, "I just think it was another ploy to say, 'Poor me, poor me,' just to play on the public again."

"Just like he did throughout the summer when Liana went missing and he was playing on the hearts of everybody else to come and help."

"To me, I almost just don't want to think of him as a person right now – I think that's how I'm dealing with it."

Montero spoke of the burden the trial place on those who knew Liana.

"It is over, but in a way it's not."

"It's over now, we're going to put this behind us, don't ever have to come here [to court] again. We're just going to move on."

"It's now going to be now more for Maureen and Ashley and her family – and that's our focus now because they need the support."

"They're tired. They just need to move on and live a normal life."

Montero, wearing a T-shirt that read "Always loving, always loved" (also engraved on Liana's tombstone), said she would remember her friend's "happy thoughts."

"I will always remember that. Never a negative thought, never a sad look. Always happy and thinking about others first. Always."

Friend Jackie Flasha offered her reflections.

"She's basically in a lot of our thoughts every single day."

"Still, we're dealing with the fact that she's gone."

"That's not going to bring her back – nothing's going to change that – so you're still you're going to have that going through out lives forever."

"We have a fundraiser that we ran last year for her that we plan on making a yearly thing to kind of honour her memory and help out with Maureen and Ashley."

Maureen Kelly, Liana White's mother, only told media there was nothing left to say.

He took a life and he was given seventeen years, she said.

The case continued January 11th, 2007 with news of Michael White's appeal.

Remembering Liana White

The Real Michael White

The Vegreville Observer Article

deadmonton - the trial of michael white - december 15th, 2006