Stepdad denounces ‘misogyny’ of killer

HALIFAX— The stepfather of a Montreal-born businesswoman and yoga instructor has denounced the “misogyny and entitlement” of the Halifax man who was ordered Wednesday to serve at least 15 years in prison for her murder.

Nicholas Butcher stabbed his common-law partner, 32-yearold Kristin Johnston, to death inside her Halifax-area home on March 26, 2016. He was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder in April.

The conviction carries an automatic life sentence, but Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Joshua Arnold ruled Wednesday that the 36-year-old man would be able to apply for parole after serving 15 years, less 880 days for time served.

Tom Bourne, Johnston’s stepfather, told reporters afterwards he was always taught to forgive people.

“But what I have to forgive here with respect to this is pretty significant,” said Bourne o.

“I have to forgive the stabbing death of Kristin; the misogyny and entitlement, cruelty and objectification of Krissy; his 10 hours of stalking behaviours and his controlling behaviours; his invasion of her privacy.”

Bourne said his natural instinct would be to “do to him what he did to her,” but that he has to try to move past that.

“I can only speak for myself here, but if I don’t manage to forgive him, I’m going to be pretty twisted and beaten up forever,” he said.