Ont. man sentenced to life in prison for 2023 murder of former girlfriend

Warning: Details in this article are disturbing and may be triggering to readers.

Daniil Matin has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for the Aug. 2023 murder of his former girlfriend Marina Nagolia.

Matin, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Newmarket jury in March following a five-week trial presided over by Justice Marcella Henschel.

In sentencing Matin, Justice Henschel said he committed “horrific acts of violence” against Nagolia, whose trust he breached after she allowed him into her Richmond Hill home. The judge said Matin murdered Nagolia while “committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault,” as he stabbed the 43-year-old woman repeatedly. Matin, the court heard, was found with self-inflicted stab wounds to his throat. The forensic pathologist ruled Nagolia died of neck compressions.

The court heard it was on Aug. 25, 2023, when York Regional Police were called to a home along Taylor Mills Drive South for a welfare check and investigators found Nagolia’s body. Matin was taken into custody, initially charged with second-degree murder. He has been behind bars since that night.

RELATED: Police identify man charged with murder in death of woman at Richmond Hill residence

Nagolia, who was a former model from Russia, dated Matin for about four years until she ended their relationship. Matin, the court heard, attempted to reconcile with Nagolia and two days after returning from a trip to Cuba, Nagolia was found dead.

The court was shown several pieces of evidence including photos from inside Nagolia’s home. A broken metal knife was recovered, found by police in Nagolia’s left hand, along with a fragment in her hair. The Crown said Matin placed the broken knife in Nagolia’s hand and took steps to cover up the blood found on Nagolia’s bed.

The Crown told the jury Matin and Nagolia got into an argument when Matin became upset Nagolia had moved on, leading to him to murder her.

When offered an opportunity to address the court Matin said he prayed for those in the courtroom in the name of Jesus.

As part of his sentence, Matin is banned from having weapons on him for life and is not to communicate with the loved ones of Marina Nagolia.