CALGARY — An Alberta judge sentenced a Calgary man to 18 months in jail Wednesday for the “savage” and “selfish” dismembering of a woman’s body.
Joshua Weise pleaded guilty to committing an indignity to a human body last November in the death of Joey English.
Weise said he panicked when he found English dead inside his home from an apparent drug overdose and disposed of her body.
“In so many ways, this rarely seen offence before me today is incomprehensible. It is selfish, it is savage, it is heinous,” said provincial court Judge Mike Dinkel.
“Although the offender did not cause the victim’s death, his actions deterred the family members from properly burying their loved one in a fashion our society is accustomed to.”
Weise had only met English days before her death early last June. They had been doing drugs at his home, court heard. After he went out to complete a drug deal, he returned to find her dead.
“He found the victim had passed away from a drug overdose. He placed the body under his bed after which he used a hatchet and a knife to dismember the body,” said Dinkel.
“The arms and the legs were removed and thrown away in a garbage bag. He placed the remainder of the body in a suitcase and had a friend help him dispose of it and left it under the Centre Street bridge.”
The remains were discovered June 8.
Dinkel said Weise caused pain to the young woman’s family and friends.
He sentenced Weise to 18 months in jail followed by three years of probation with drug and alcohol counselling. There will also be three months of strict house arrest after his release when he will be required to carry his probation papers with him at all time.
“I want you to remember this situation and the people that you damaged,” said Dinkel.
“It’s a pretty profound thing that’s happened here and it’s something I hope you won’t forget easily and I won’t let you forget easily.”
With time served, Dinkel said the sentence means Weise will spend another seven months in jail.
There were tears from English’s family during the sentencing.
Her mother, Stephanie English, said she wasn’t even able to give her daughter a proper burial.
“Her body was only gifted to her. Her spirit is at home. It is her children that will suffer,” Stephanie English said.
“For me, I have no choice. I have to move on but it’s difficult.”