Eight years for B.C. man convicted of manslaughter of former common-law partner

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – A British Columbia man has been sentenced to just over eight years in prison for the killing of his common law partner nearly four years ago.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Miriam Gropper sentenced 27-year-old Garrett George to 11 years behind bars, but that was reduced to eight years and four months to account for his time spent in custody before sentencing.

George was originally charged with second-degree murder for the death of 21-year-old Destiny Rae Tom but pleaded guilty in June to manslaughter.

In sentencing George, the judge called the slaying "extremely violent," noting Tom suffered a list of injuries as she was punched, kicked and dragged along the ground by George.

The killing occurred on the Nadleh reserve, near Fraser Lake, about 160 kilometres west of Prince George, and Tom's frozen and partially clothed body was found on the morning of March 23, 2013.

Gropper said there had been a history of violence over the couple's four-year relationship, with two incidents resulting in assault convictions against George. (CFTK)