The man convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his neighbor in Wiarton has been sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for at least 12 years.
Superior Court Justice John R. Sproat handed down the sentence to Ralph Rudowski on Tuesday. Rudowski will be eligible for release when he is 72-years-old.
The offence carried a mandatory life sentence, only the parole eligibility period was left to be decided in sentencing.
Janice West, 61 at the time of her death, was found dead in her home on Division Street in Wiarton on March 6, 2018. Rudowski was with her the day before. Police arrested and charged him with second-degree murder days after the incident.
Rudowski was convicted of second-degree murder in December 2019 by a jury.
In his written reasons for sentencing, Justice Sproat acknowledged six jurors recommended parole ineligibility for 15 years.
“I take that into account but reduce it somewhat on account of the unusual circumstance that the deplorable living conditions of Ms. West, something beyond the control of Ms. West and Mr. Rudowski, were a significant factor contributing to the murder,” Sproat says.
According to Sproat’s written reasons for sentencing, West lived in a house that had no running water. The toilet bowl was found full of human feces, cat feces were on the floor in various locations and on top of her bed. The furniture was ragged and heavily stained.
Sproat noted Rudowski held the “completely misguided” belief that the deplorable conditions in which West lived made her life not worth living, and Rudowski believed he was doing her a favour by ending her life.
Justice Sproat noted independent witnesses indicated that Rudowski and West appeared to have a friendly relationship.
“The evidence indicates that they were both alcoholics and would drink together,” Sproat says in his written reasons for sentencing.
West and Rudowski were together the night of her death. Justice Sproat says he accepts some aspects of Rudowski’s statement to police. The convicted murderer told police “alcohol set off the demons that night and it makes your feelings come out.”
During the criminal trial in December 2019, a forensic pathologist gave evidence West died by strangulation and was found with multiple blunt force injuries.
Justice Sproat rejected the notion Rudowski attempted CPR on West.
“The jury concluded that he intended to kill Ms. West and her injuries were extensive and inflicted over a considerable period of time. It, therefore, does not make sense to me that Mr. Rudowski would then have a sudden change of heart and try to revive Ms. West,” Sproat says.
Sproat noted Rudowski has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1979, with convictions registered on 20 different dates.
An OPP Threat Assessment prepared concluded Rudowski presents a high risk for violence while in the community.
Some of Justice Sproat’s comments make clear mental health was a factor in this murder.
Sproat says Rudowski has a skewed sense of reality and acknowledges the fact he was assessed to determine if there was a viable defence of not criminally responsible.
“As a result of that assessment that defence was not raised,” Sproat says. “It remains, however, that he has made numerous statements that can only be described as bizarre. As detailed in the OPP Threat Assessment, he has diagnosed personality disorders that have contributed to him offending.”
Justice Sproat also ordered court staff to forward a copy of the reasons for sentencing to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and the Grey Bruce Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association for information purposes.