A Windsor man, who pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the stabbing death of his mother, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole for 13 years.
Jason Coffey, 41, stabbed his 63-year-old mom 40 times in her Oak Avenue home, then went through her purse searching for money to buy drugs.
"I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself for what I did," Coffey said in a statement in Superior Court on Wednesday.
Justice Bruce Thomas told the court due to drug use when the murder was committed, Coffey “was not in his right mind” in July, 2012.
Crown attorney Elizabeth Brown submitted for parole eligibility at the higher end of 12 to 15 years. Defence lawyer Andrew Bradie asked for no chance of parole for 12 years.
“The person he killed was likely his best friend,” says Bradie.
Bradie says Coffey's drug addictions began with marijuana at age 14 and cocaine at age 18. He says drugs "took the pain and hurt away."
Bradie told the court Coffey hopes to share his story of addiction to help others. He hopes to counsel about drug addiction and use.
Coffey suffered from multiple relapses of drug use even when his life was turning around, says Bradie. He ultimately lost everything.
Brown told the court Coffey put his needs first every time, lying and stealing for drugs. She says he continued to abuse without much of an effort to stop.
“I'm asking for justice for Florence,” Brown said. “Justice for that brutal murder that was committed.”
Windsor police originally charged Coffey with first-degree murder.