Nanaimo man sentenced to life in prison for breaking into home and killing woman

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WARNING: This story contains graphic violence

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The Nanaimo man who fatally stabbed 20-year-old Emily Caruana by breaking into a Brentwood Bay home three years ago has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 18 years.

In July, 50-year-old Alan Charles Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Caruana and the aggravated assault of his uncle John Caruana and her boyfriend Justin Booth.

In Monday’s ruling, the court said Chapman was furious and upset, overdosing on nitrous oxide and crack cocaine, when he broke into the home of Emily’s grandmother, Doris Caruana, on May 11, 2019. I heard that

He was aiming for someone else, but accidentally killed Emily. Hours after the killing, Chapman believed he had murdered his intended victim, whose identity was protected by a publication ban.

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Emily Caruana and Booth, 24, traveled from the Lower Mainland to spend Mother’s Day with their grandmother, Uncle John, and 4-year-old daughter Abigail. The family spent her day together, visiting the Royal BC Museum and having lunch at Pagliacci’s.they went to bed around 10pm

At approximately 12:30 a.m., according to a factual admission read into court records, Chapman, a large man weighing about 230 pounds, broke a window into the house and ran up the stairs where he was confronted by Doris and her son John. It became clear. Chapman was very fast-talking and acting “like a madman.”

He asked where the knife was, pried open the kitchen door, and grabbed a large chef’s knife.

Doris ran downstairs, called 911, and left. She could hear screams and screams in the house, and she told the dispatcher that she had been attacked and that “he is killing them.”

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John tried to prevent Chapman from entering the bedroom where Emily and Booth were sleeping, but Chapman stabbed him in the neck, back and arm. John collapsed in a puddle of blood on the stairs.

Chapman kicked open the bedroom door and brandished a knife. He attacked Booth and knocked Emily to the floor.

“He kept yelling at her that she was spreading rumors and that she needed to pay.

Emily didn’t understand what he was talking about. She begged and pleaded with Chapman and she said he had the wrong person.

Chapman stabbed Emily 38 times. She was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The violence inflicted on her was indescribable,” said Judge Tony Sanders.

Chapman ran out of the house and drove to Nanaimo. Lake Shawnigan and Duncan RCMP had been alerted by the Central Saanich Police that he may be heading. His vehicle was found traveling north at speeds reaching 160 km/h. Police deployed spiked belts and Chapman was arrested without incident.

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Meanwhile, John Caruana and Booth were taken to Victoria General Hospital in critical condition. Their wounds were very serious. Caruana was in intensive care for five days after his right kidney failed. Booth had eight deep stab wounds to his torso and multiple defensive wounds to his hands.He was discharged 14 days after his death and had no plans to regain function in his hands. I had to have surgery again.

Emily’s aunt, Christine Otwell, said in a statement on the impact on victims that Emily’s murder was the worst time of her life and put her entire family in jeopardy.

“We lose her again and again every day when she’s not here with us,” Otwell said.

Emily died four weeks before she graduated from college. She was admitted to her Columbia University in the fall, and she was applying to her driving school in July.

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“She wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but she died full of dreams,” said Ottwell. “She had a lot to contribute and she was on track.”

Defense attorney Jordan Watt told the court that Chapman had a long history of substance abuse and addiction.

The judge said Chapman had a sporadic criminal record, professed remorse for his actions, and said he did not expect forgiveness.

Sanders sentenced Chapman to life imprisonment and a seven-year sentence for each aggravated assault.

ldickson@timescolonist.com

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