Jason McKay sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years for 2017 murder of wife

Jason McKay was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years in the 2017 murder of his wife. Mick Favel reports.

This story contains details some readers may find disturbing.

Jason McKay has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years for the 2017 murder of his wife, the same sentence he was given in 2020.

McKay pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his wife in Regina on Jan. 23, 2026, almost eight and a half years after she died.

She was murdered in September 2017 in her home on the 200 block of Angus Street. According to an agreed statement of facts, sometime between the late hours of Sept. 5 and the early morning of Sept. 6, McKay attacked her with a knife.

He ultimately stabbed her 24 times, using multiple knives, with some wounds made post mortem.

Jenny was 33 at the time of her death.

Justice Beverly Klatt handed down her decision at the Court of King’s Bench on Tuesday. Earlier in February, she reserved her decision to review submissions from Crown and defense.

Klatt’s decision to extend McKay’s parole ineligibility to 17 years was due to the violent nature of the murder, as well as McKay’s criminal past which includes two violent incidents.

“This sentencing judge imposed the same parole ineligibility that the first judge did. We are grateful for that, and we think it is an appropriate sentence,” said Adam Breker, the Crown prosecutor involved in the case.

While McKay was guaranteed to receive a life sentence for the murder, the Crown and defense argued what his parole eligibility should be.

The Crown pushed for 18 years until parole eligibility, while the defense had called for 12 years, citing the guilty plea over eight years after the murder.

Following a trial in 2020, Jason was found guilty by a judge of second-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison and ineligible for parole for 17 years.

He then appealed his conviction and sentence, which led to the retrial.

“Sadly for the family of Jenny, it has taken a lot of years to conclude. More than is typical but we are certainly grateful that is has finally concluded,” Breker said.

McKay has been in prison since he was arrested in September 2017, almost nine and a half years ago.

He appeared in court on Tuesday in a grey jumpsuit and was quiet when the sentence was handed down.

He will be eligible for parole in the year 2043.

With files from Donovan Maess

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