'You heard him screaming': Judge hands 6-year sentence to woman who helped kill robbery victim

A Calgary woman who participated in the violent death of a man she'd just met has been handed a six-year sentence.

Last month, Trista Tinkler pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the December 2019 death of Kasif Hirani, 30.

Tinkler, 36, and boyfriend Robert Daignault, 53, took the man to a remote area where he was taken out of the vehicle andstabbed 25 times.

Although she did not know of the plan to kill the victim, Tinklerdid know"the plan was to leave him in a remote area on a freezing night," saidCourt of Queen's Bench Justice Alice Woolleyin handing down the sentence.

"You did nothing to help him when you heard him screaming," saidWoolley.

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With credit for the time Tinkler hasspent in custody, she hasfour years left on hersentence.

Hirani, who had just turned 30 years old, left behind a wife,who called him her "most favourite person on this planet" and said he was her "only support in Canada."

The couplehad moved to Canada several years earlier from India.

Drug addicted and broke

At the time of the killing, Tinkler and Daignault were "couch surfing,"staying at a friend's place. The pair wasaddicted to drugs, homeless and out of money.

On Dec. 28, Tinkler arranged a "date" with Hirani, with a plan to exchange sexual services for money.

Tinkler was picked up by Hirani at a pub in the city's southeast and she brought him to the apartment where she and Daignault had been staying.

From there, Hirani was forced into the back seat of his vehicle.

Couple stole $14K from victim

Once they got him to the Springbank area, Hirani was taken out of the car.

Tinkler stayed in the vehiclebut could hear Hirani's screams.

The victim was stabbed 25 times and left on the side of the road.

In the days after his death, Tinkler and Daignault stole more than $14,000 fromHirani using his bank card to make withdrawals, e-transfers andpurchases, according to the agreed statement of facts.

Prosecutor Vince Pingitorehadproposed a five- to seven-year prison term, whiledefence lawyer Shamsher Kothari argued his client should spend four years behind bars.

Daignault is still awaiting trial.