Man gets life for killing girlfriend
Parole eligibility set at 15 years in second-degree murder beating
REGINA A woman with a sparkling personality, a contagious laugh, a love for people and a sense of adventure, it wasn’t unusual for Celeste Yawney to jump in her car to visit family or friends.
Cranking up the music as she drove, she’d listen to the songs she loved on repeat.
If, upon arrival, she found a loved one struggling, she’d do what she could to help, jumping in to do the dishes or the laundry or helping to look after the kids.
“She loved and trusted people, she was slow to judge, always looking for the good in others,” added sister Janine Pereira.
But Celeste had her own struggles — among them an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Duran Redwood.
That abuse, which led to criminal charges following a serious assault on her in July 2014, culminated less than a year later in her death at Redwood’s hands.
Redwood was sentenced on Monday for beating 33-year-old Celeste to death in the early morning of May 24, 2015. In February, a jury found the 30-year-old guilty of second-degree murder, despite the man’s claims he’d been too drunk to form the intent.
Defence lawyer Kevin Hill told reporters he will be filing an appeal on his client’s behalf.
But on Tuesday, it was Redwood’s sentencing at issue. While second-degree murder draws an automatic life sentence, the amount of time Redwood has to serve before becoming eligible for parole was up for debate. Crown prosecutor Connie Hottinger asked for 20 years, Hill for 10.
In the end, Justice Guy Chicoine split the difference, returning later in the day with a 15-year decision. The judge pointed out that doesn’t mean Redwood will receive parole then, only that he can apply for it.
The Crown made much of public safety in its submissions, noting the extent of Redwood’s criminal record. His assaults on domestic partners date back 12 years, and involve three separate women, including Yawney. Never before has Redwood received time behind bars for his violent offending, having instead been granted a range of community-based sentences.
Among conditions of his various sentences was that he confront his substance abuse problem and his issues with domestic violence. Instead, he ended up with a variety of breaches, including over non-contact orders with his partners.
Having beat Celeste so severely in 2014 that her bruised face reportedly swelled to twice its size, he ended up with a charge of assault causing bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to that offence in January 2015, and was ordered to stay away from her.
But the two resumed their relationship and, that May, a night of heavy drinking led to a beating so severe Celeste was killed.
Her mother Carla Yawney, reading from a victim impact statement, told the court she remains haunted by a call she missed early that morning from Celeste. But while she’s reached the point of being able to forgive herself, she isn’t ready to forgive Redwood.
“The reality is we will grieve forever,” she said. “We will not get over the loss of Celeste. We’re learning to live with it. We heal and rebuild ourselves around the loss of Celeste. We will be whole again, but we will never be the same, nor should we be.”
Redwood wept as he offered an apology on Monday, directing his gaze at the Yawney family while acknowledging the pain he caused them. “I know that I have to live with this for the rest of my life, knowing that a kind, loving person is gone …,” he said. “Your lives are changed forever, and it’s all because of me. I’m really sorry for that.”
Speaking outside of court, wearing necklaces bearing Celeste’s name, Carla and Pereira said they hope the case draws attention to the issue of domestic violence.