Erwin Spence sentenced to 9 years after choking wife to death

Two ofJenna Marsden'schildren watched as her common-law husband put her in a chokehold"to put her to sleep" and killed her in late 2014.

• Winnipeg woman killed, common-law husband charged

Marsden, 27,was living in Winnipeg after evacuatingSt. Martin in 2011 due to floods. Shewas found unresponsive on the morning of Sept. 21, 2014, in aBurnellStreet apartment. Two days later, she was declared brain dead and taken off life support.

"I'm haunted to this day seeing my sister in a casket,"TanyaAnderson,Marsden'ssister, told CBC News.

On June 20, ErwinSpence, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced to nine years, minus the 2 years served.

The victim's sister believes her sister suffered through domestic abuse in silence.

"Most of it was behind closed doors, she didn't really talk about it much, I know she wanted to be free of that," said Anderson.

'I put my foot down'

The murder of her sister spurred Anderson to make changes in her own life. Anderson left an abusive relationship and called police to ensure charges would be laid against her ex-partner.

"I put my foot down this time, showed up at the court, and he pled guilty," she said.

She said her sister never called police and wishes she had. She believes if Spence had an official record of abuse, he might have received a stiffer sentence.

"That's what I really want toencouragepeople is to press those charges," said Anderson. ""I want them to call the cops, I want them to press charges and I want them to follow through with the charges.

Marsden and Spence met while the St. Martin woman was living in Winnipeg after being forced out of her home community due to the 2011 flooding.

"If we had stayed back home, she would still be here today," said Anderson.

Sorry for 'pain and heartache'

Court heard that the couple and two of their sonswere visiting Spence's sister at her apartment suite. The couple stayed in to drink while the sister went out to visit her boyfriend. When she returned, she foundSpence hitting Marsdenon her head. The sister unsuccessfully tried to get help and when she returned, Spence said Marsden was sleeping.

Spencesaid he used a chokehold to "put her to sleep," the court heard.

Though initially charged with second-degree murder, Spencetook a plea and pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

In court, he said a few words to the family,"I want to say sorry to Jenna's family for all the hurt and pain and heartache I caused them."

When she was killed, Marsden left behind a six-month-old from her relationship with Spence, plus two older boys from a previous relationship.

"Life will never be the same without her, I just miss her laugh, I miss everything about her, her phone calls," says Anderson.