A Chatham-Kent man will spend time behind bars almost 30 years after the shooting death of his wife.
A Chatham judge has sentenced 55-year-old George Jarvis to nine years in prison, after Jarvis pleaded guilty to manslaughter back in August. The plea is in connection to the death of his wife, Donna Jarvis, who was shot and killed on November 12, 1987. She was 22 years old at the time of her death.
Jarvis' lawyer Ken Marley was looking for a conditional sentence for his client. He sights evidence from an independent forensic psychiatrist, who believes Jarvis would be better served being treated for mental health difficulties within the community.
"It was that psychiatrist's opinion that Mr. Jarvis was not a threat to the safety of the public, that he did not have a violent predisposition, and that this event, whatever happened in 1987, was clearly an isolated one," says Marley.
It was also Marley's hope that the circumstances surrounding Jarvis' initial arrest would've helped shorten his sentence.
"We wouldn't have even been at court if it wasn't for him. His discussions with people that led to police being alerted, his admissions that he was responsible for his wife's death are the only reasons he was in court," says Marley.
The lawyer adds the court did acknowledge Jarvis' admissions, actually thanking him for coming forward in the way that he did.
Marley stands behind his opinion that Jarvis was sentenced "very harshly."