A Canadian woman killed a man before setting his house on fire. Now, she will spend at least two decades behind bars.
An Aurora judge sentenced Melissa Galea to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of Troy Stephen Oakley, 38. Galea was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and arson.
Just after midnight on July 27, 2019, firefighters and first responders responded to a home on Edwards Street that was engulfed in fire. After firefighters extinguished the flames, they found a body in the residence burnt without recognition. Later, autopsy results showed the victim had been stabbed nine times, and authorities used dental records to identify the remains as Oakley, according to BNN.
Despite the insurmountable evidence submitted by prosecutors, including a witness who saw the 41-year-old defendant bending over Oakley while holding an eight-inch hunting knife, Galea told the court she would not accept the charges against her. In addition, she informed the court she would be appealing the conviction.
"What I am charged with and what has happened, I will not accept," she said. "But as a human being, I totally understand how everything is. I don't think Troy Oakley was a bad person, and I hope that his family gets the closure they need," said Galea during the sentencing hearing, reported Barrie.
However, Galea’s defense lawyer argued for leniency due to the defendant’s history of alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental health issues.
The jury disagreed!
Galea will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years. She was sentenced to an additional six months for the arson charge.
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