Life with no chance of parole for 13 years for Ontario man who killed his mom

WINDSOR, Ont. – A Windsor, Ont., man who stabbed his mother to death last year and then stole her money to buy drugs was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 13 years.

Jason Coffey, 41, had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the July 2012 slaying of 63-year-old Florence Coffey in the home the two shared.

Court was told Coffey was addicted to crack cocaine and that he stabbed his mother 40 times with two knives before stealing money from her purse to buy drugs.

Coffey had been battling drug addiction for two decades, court heard.

The defence had sought parole eligibility after 12 years, while the Crown wanted 15.

Coffey cried at the sentencing, saying he would never be able to forgive himself for what he did. He said that it should have been him who died.

Assistant Crown attorney Elizabeth Brown said the crime has tormented the Coffey family.

“They’re suffering. They’re struggling… They weren’t able to put in words the sense of loss they feel.”

“She was a hard-working, productive member of our community. Everybody knew Flo, and everybody loved her, especially her family,” Brown said.

Defence lawyer Andrew Bradie said Coffey’s history with drug abuse helped shorten his sentence.

“I think to the extent to which drugs did play a factor in the homicide weighed heavily on the judge and had him decide in the lower end of the (sentencing) range. I think it was a well-reasoned decision.”

Bradie said his client is distraught over killing his mother.

“He loved her and she loved him.”

(CKLW)