Jealous killer planned girl's murder

By KEVIN MARTIN, QMI Agency

Last Updated: October 30, 2010 4:56am

CALGARY - Convicted killer Tristan Ryan on Friday relived the "horror" of killing his former girlfriend -- a nightmare he has experienced regularly for the past two decades.

A sometimes teary Ryan, who has legally changed his name from Bradley Paetsch, told defence lawyer Kirk MacDonald the murder led to drug addiction in prison.

Testifying about the Jan. 23, 1991 killing for the first time, Ryan said he murdered Stephanie Spooner in a jealous rage.

And he admitted going to the 16-year-old girl's Okotoks home that day armed with a knife with the intention of murdering her.

"My all consuming thought at that time was 'was I going to kill her and how and when,'" he told a Calgary jury.

"I loved Stephanie a lot."

Ryan, who was 18 at the time of Spooner's murder, wants a jury to reduce the number of years he must serve before he can apply for full parole.

He's currently serving a life sentence without eligibility for 25 years, but is hoping to get that number lowered under the so-called "faint hope" clause.

Ryan told court about how he pounced on Spooner after reading a birthday card to her from her new lover, Jarrett McRae.

He had gone to Spooner's parents' home after she had invited him over to talk.

As she got ready to go out Ryan noticed several birthday cards in her bedroom, he said.

"There was a letter by Jarrett ... a birthday card," he said.

Reading it, he realized his worst fears about her seeing someone else had come true.

"Not only had there been a relationship, it was quite intense -- they had slept together and he looked forward to the next encounter," Ryan said.

"I went to the bathroom, she was still doing her hair and I pulled the knife on her.

"I ... put it to her throat, I cut her and she screamed and then I proceeded to stab her repeatedly -- many times."

Ryan, 38, said after Spooner fell to the floor he slashed her throat as well.

He said he now feels "horrible, horrific" for what he did.

Spooner's cousins, Shawna McEwen and Scott Verot, weren't impressed with Ryan's testimony, saying parole after 25 years should be his reward for rehabilitating himself in prison.

Jurors will hear final submissions from MacDonald and Crown prosecutor Jonathan Hak on Monday.

From: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2010/10/30/15888761.html