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Warning: This article may affect those who have experienced intimate partner violence or know someone affected by it.
A man has been sentenced to life in prison after killing his girlfriend in the parkade of Metrotown mall in Burnaby, B.C., in December 2021.
Melissa Blimkie, 25, of North Vancouver was stabbed to death on Dec. 19, 2021 at around 11:40 a.m. in the mall parkade. She later died of the injuries in hospital.
Blimkie’s boyfriend, Everton Downey, 35, has now been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).
Downey was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case last August, with Justice Heather Holmes rejecting an argument from Downey’s lawyers that he should be found not criminally responsible on account of a mental illness.
Downey’s lawyers unsuccessfully argued he should be found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder. (Shane MacKichan)
In a statement about the sentencing, Cpl. Esther Tupper said investigators’ thoughts were with Blimkie’s friends and family.
“This was a tragic instance of intimate partner violence that has had a devastating impact on Melissa’s family and her community,” she said.
In addition to the life sentence, IHIT says the court imposed a lifetime firearm prohibition on Downey.
If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. If you’re affected by family or intimate partner violence, you can look for help through crisis lines and local support services.
