FILE PHOTO - Howard Everett Krewson leaves the Vernon courthouse in handcuffs following the guilty verdict on Sept. 23, 2016.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - A Vernon judge called convicted murderer Howard Krewson “selfish” and “narcissistic” as he sentenced him for the 2014 killing of local school teacher Linda Marie Stewart.

Supreme Court Justice Frank Cole sentenced Krewson to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 13 years for the second degree murder of his girlfriend.

Krewson, 57, shot Stewart (who also went by Linda Ross) while she was attempting to flee in her car with her three dogs on June 19, 2014 at her Lumby hobby farm after the two had an argument. She was found slumped over in her car with a bullet in her back.

Linda Stewart

Image Credit: Contributed

Justice Cole said that while Krewson has shown remorse and taken courses while in custody, including programs from a Christian organization, he hasn’t taken full responsibility for what happened.

“This was a brutal murder, fuelled in part by drugs and alcohol. The firing of a high powered pistol at short range when Ms. Stewart was in the confined space of her car and when she was trying to escape must have caused her a great deal of terror and fear,” Cole said.

He said Krewson was in a position of trust and that “an assault on a spouse is always an aggravating factor.” Her death had a severe impact on her brother, sister in law, nieces and friends, Cole said.

Stewart was a teacher in the Vernon School District and is fondly remembered by friends and community members. 

Justice Cole had harsh words for Krewson, who showed little emotion during the sentence hearing.

“In my view, he is a selfish, narcissistic individual that does not take responsibility for his conduct,” Cole said.

Krewson grew up in California under the care of an alcoholic mother and father, Cole said. He was sexually abused by his father and an uncle, and dropped out of school at age 15. He’s been married three times and has not seen any of his children in years, Cole said.

The minimum sentence for second degree murder is life in prison with no parole for ten years, and the maximum is life with no parole for 25 years.

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