After he shot Kassidy Ballantyne-Holmes in his bedroom, Keith Savile told two people inside his Ontario Street residence that morning that it was an accident and that he didn’t mean to do it.
That’s according to an agreed upon set of facts from Savile’s lawyer, Kirsten Van Drunen, and Crown Attorney Brendan Thomas, which was read into the record at Superior Court of Justice in Stratford on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty yesterday to manslaughter before Justice Jennifer Moser.
Justice Moser sentenced Savile to nine years in jail, accepting a joint sentencing submission from defence counsel and the Crown.
Court heard that Savile had consumed 26 ounces of gin and used meth before firing the gun on Oct. 15, 2024.
It can be described as intimate partner violence, court heard, as Savile and Ballantyne-Holmes were in a “quasi-romantic” relationship. They were in a bedroom with the door closed shortly before 5 a.m. when two people also at the residence heard a gun shot.
Savile exited the bedroom, saying: “I shot her by accident”, and repeated several times, “I did not mean to do it”, according to others at the home.
In reading the agreed upon facts in court, the Crown said Savile had threatened her with the firearm and in the process accidently shot her.
Police arrived shortly after 5 a.m. after one of the other people at the home called 9-1-1.
Ballantyne-Holmes was on the bed when first responders arrived. She was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound above her left temple. Despite lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced deceased at 9:50 a.m.
The mother of three was 35-years-old.
Savile initially told police he was in the washroom when he heard the gunshot.
He was charged with second degree murder after being arrested.
Savile told police he had modified a starter pistol. At the residence, officers found shotgun shells, various sized firearm rounds, plastic firearm casings, pills, a small amount of meth, and a magazine for a .22-calibre rifle.
In a victim impact statement read in court, a family member said Ballantyne-Holmes’ death has been painful and complicated for her family. A memorial walk was held in Stratford after her death.
Van Drunen said Savile has expressed remorse for his actions.
The Crown said the length of sentence in the joint submission was in line with relevant case law.
Savile declined to address the court when offered the opportunity to do so before sentencing.
With credit for time served, Savile has six years, two months left on his sentence.
