Edmonton man who killed woman with hammer sentenced

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A man who killed his wife in their north Edmonton home has been sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole for 13 years.

Judge James Neilson described the crime as ‘brutal and merciless’ during his sentencing on Wednesday.

On December 15, 2022, police found the lifeless body of 51-year-old Daniela Roman in the basement of her home near 75A Street and 166 Avenue.

Through an interpreter, Vasile Roman, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her death.

In an agreed statement of facts read out to the court at the sentencing hearing in late August, the court heard that Vasile had attacked his wife of 15 years with a hammer.

“This was a brutal and vicious attack,” the prosecutor said.

“He hit her again and again with great force… he split her kidney in two,” the Crown continued.

Daniela’s mother was in the house when the attack occurred and told police she heard two screams but thought they came from outside.

When she saw Vasile a short time later, she remembered him being in a “light, cheerful mood.”

“The accused made no attempt to assist her,” the Crown said.

He waited an hour before calling 9-1-1 to report that he had killed his wife.

The court heard Vasile has a history of alcoholism and suffered from unfounded delusions around jealousy.

Vasile killed his wife because he believed she was engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with family members. According to the victim’s family, the accusations were completely unfounded.

“The accused had had these delusions for years,” the Crown said, adding that he had created an environment in which their two sons felt they could not hug their own mother.

The court also heard that the couple’s two adult sons told investigators that Vasile had a history of verbal and physical abuse towards their mother, once trying to drown her in a bathtub.

The sons, along with two close friends of Daniela, were in the courtroom during the sentencing hearing, but not at Wednesday’s sentencing.

“The murder of our mother has ruined us,” the eldest son said in his victim impact statement read by the Crown.

He said she was the reason for his success and drive, but since her death he has no motivation to move on with life.

“I have tried therapy, but it will never fill the void,” his statement continued. “I just want my mother back.”

The statement of the youngest son was also read by the Crown.

“I will never be the same again,” it said.

He blames himself for not being home to protect his mother.

“My mother was my rock,” his statement continued. “Taken from me by the hands of my own father.”

He said his grandmother was in the house and heard screaming and banging.

‘She didn’t know her daughter was murdered. This has broken her,” he said.

The sons also expressed their fear.

“I’m always alert,” said the youngest.

“I’m afraid he will try to find my brother and me and do the same to us.”

Vasile has been in custody since his arrest on the day of the murder.

A second-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole for a minimum of 10 years.

“I conclude that in this case a period of 13 years of parole ineligibility is an appropriate sentence,” Judge Neilson said.

The judge also issued an order that Vasile must have no contact with his sons.