N.W.T. man handed a life sentence with no parole for 13 years for killing Meg Kruger

A man from Hay River, N.W.T., has been handed a life sentence for killing an 18-year-old woman four years ago.

James Colosimo won't be eligible for parole for 13 years.

During a sentencing hearing Thursday and Friday, the court heard how Colosimo stabbed Meg Kruger after she tried to end their relationship.

It's the first time details of what happened the night of Sept. 9, 2020, have been made public.

Facts read out in court stated that Colosimo met Kruger through work and they briefly dated. Kruger had planned to end their relationship for good, but Colosimo brought a knife with him that night and used it to kill her.

The court heard Colosimo, who was 31 at the time, had alcohol, cocaine and pills in his system, and had claimed that an entity told him to kill Kruger.

The courthouse in Hay River, N.W.T. (Carla Ulrich/CBC)

Colosimo was initially charged with first-degree murder, but that charge was reduced in 2021 to second-degree murder. He eventually pleaded guilty.

The courtroom in Hay River was packed with family and friends of Kruger during the two-day sentencing hearing.

In victim impact statements, they talked about how special Kruger was to them, and how they have been living with fear and grief since her murder.

On Friday, Justice Shannon Smallwood accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence that he serve 13 years without parole.

Smallwood addressed Kruger's family, saying a prison sentence can't make up for the loss of a loved one and the court can't undo the harm Colosimo caused, but it was her hope his sentencing would help them move forward.

Murder convictions come with automatic life sentences. Sentences can range from 10 to 25 years without parole eligibility.