Joel Clow sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter in 2015 death of Traci Lynch

Joel Lawrence Clow has been sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter in the killing of his girlfriend Traci Lynch in July2015.

Justice Terri MacPhersonhanded down the sentencein P.E.I. Supreme Court Monday in Charlottetown.

Clowpleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter after his previous murder conviction wasoverturned on appeal in February 2019.

The Crown and defence lawyers had agreed in June on a joint recommendation of 12 years. Clow has spent almost four years in custody since his arrest. Today's sentence is in addition to time already served.

'Violent and tragic'

In sentencing Clow, MacPhersondescribed Lynch's death as "extremely violent and tragic."

"A young boy has lost his mother, a mother has lost her daughter, siblings have lost their sister, the entire family has lost a treasured member," said MacPherson. "All will feel the impact of this loss for the rest of their lives."

Clowwas originally convicted of second degree murderand in 2017 he was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.

No time will ever be enough. Kelly MacDonald

Lynch's family packed the courtroom for Monday's sentencing. They travelled from Nova Scotia, where Lynch is originally from.

"No time will ever be enough. Having to settle for manslaughter is not what we wanted but in the end you have to accept what the court decides," Lynch's cousin, Kelly MacDonald, told CBC.

The family said they will now focus on caring for Lynch's young son.

Lynch diedin Pleasant Grove, P.E.I.in July 2015from strangulation and blunt force injury. Her body was discoveredin a wheelbarrow onClow's property.

Lynch and Clow were in a relationship in the months leading up to her death. She lived in a house about a kilometre down the road from him.

Evidence presented during those court proceedings showed signs of a violent struggle across the road from Clow'shouse. The judge at the time said the struggle ended with Clowtearing up Lynch's T-shirt, wrapping it around her neck and using it to drag her back to his property.

Clow admitted his actions caused her death but at trial his lawyers Joel Pink and NathanSutherlandargued that Clow was too intoxicatedto understand what he was doing,and was not capable of forming intentto kill.

The Crown had argued Clow had a clear state of mind that night. Evidence presented at trial suggested Lynch was afraidof Clow because he hadtried to run her down with his truck, had poured bleach over her clothes, flooded her houseand hadbeen discoveredhiding in her garage.

In 2017, Judge Nancy Key ruledthat Clow's efforts to conceal Lynch's body, and the fact that he bagged many of her clothes and personal items and put them in the garbage was evidence he felt guiltyfor what he'd done.

He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

A question of intent

In February2019 the case took a major turn.

P.E.I.'s Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial.Justice John Mitchell foundthat Key had failed to consider all the evidence, includingthat Clow may have been high and severely intoxicated at the time of Lynch's death.

Clow pleaded guilty to manslaughter, negating the need for a new trial.

Clow's 12-year sentence begins Monday.

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