Hat man enters guilty plea in murder case

A Medicine Hat man has pleaded guilty to murdering his common-law wife in a vicious attack with a box-cutter last October.

Timothy Faulkner, 56, had attempted to plead guilty at his first court appearance shortly after the body of Corrine Schneider was discovered by Medicine Hat police in the couple’s apartment on Third Street.

However, such a plea could not technically be made until he was arraigned in Court of Queen’s Bench.

That occurred on Friday morning, at which point Faulkner argued he wished to proceed directly to sentencing.

“We can deal with that today,” Faulkner told Justice Charlene Anderson as she discussed dates and the prosecution’s request for a presentencing and risk assessment report.

Eventually she decided to agree the reports should be ordered, noting Faulkner can take part or not. The matter will come back to court on April 8.

“It’s an extremely serious charge,” she told him. “It’s not my intention to delay the matter, but this is moving very fast.

“I can assure you that we’ll deal with sentencing as soon as possible.”

Second-degree murder carries with it an automatic life sentence in prison, with a minimum of 10 years before the person can apply for parole.

Prosecutor Ryan Anstey told the court that without the benefit of a pre-sentence report, the Crown would seek a term of 12-14 years without the possibility of parole.

A sentencing hearing would also include victim impact statements.

An agreed statement of facts signed by Faulkner this week describes a vicious attack in a blood-soaked bedroom.

It states that Faulkner and Schneider had been in a common-law relationship for about three years, were experiencing problems and considering separating.

The statement of facts contained no description of specific motivation or events leading up to the Oct. 25 attack.

An autopsy concluded the cause of death was severe blood caused by “multiple deep cuts to the face, neck” and then further violence to legs and body.

The blade of the razor knife broke several times during the attack.

Afterward, Faulkner cleaned himself in the kitchen and bathroom sinks and bathtub, placed a pillow and sheet over Schneider’s body, then called police.

Medicine Hat police service arrived and took him into custody after a search of the apartment.