'An act of savage cowardice': John Strang pleads guilty to murder of wife Lisa Strang

John Strangshot his wife twice with a revolver, once in the back and once in the head, while she was in the basement working on their monthly bills, a Regina courtroom heard Wednesday.

Strangpleaded guilty to second-degree murder this morning, andalso pleaded guilty to uttering a threat toLynn Larsen, a married woman with whom he had become obsessed.

Strang, 50,was charged with the murder of Lisa Strang, 47, more than two years ago in the village of McLean, Sask.

Second-degree murder carries an automaticlife sentence with a minimum of 10 years before parole eligibility.The Crown anddefence made a joint submission askingfor a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years before being eligible for parole.

Marriage problems

In court Wednesday, Strang apologized for his crime. His attorney saidStrangfeelsthe loss of his wife as much as anyone, that hefelt "outside of himself" when he shot his wife and that he didn't know why he killed Lisa.

The attorney later saidthe couple had bickered over money on the day of Lisa's murder.

Peoplein the courtroom also heard that Strang'ssterility caused friction in the 24-year marriage, and that Strang had bought the murder weapon with the idea of killing himself with it.

The day of the crime

On July 31, 2015, neighbours inMcLeanoverheard an argumentbetween the couple from inside their home. The next day at noon a neighbour heard two loud bangs and sawStrangleave the home.

Lisa had been in the basement doing what appeared to be their monthly bills.Strangshot her twice with a .357 revolver.

Strangthen wenton the run for 27 hours. During that time he went to visitLarsen at Rockford Ranch, her home.Strangasked her to go for a walk, which she declined.

He then went on to tell her that he had fantasies of raping her andkilling people. Then hetold her that he had done something bad; he had killed his wife.

Larsen asked why he had killed Lisa.Strangsaid he didn't know.

Then he toldher that she was lucky her grandchildren were with her, and left.

Strangwas spotted near NorthBattlefordbyRCMPafter contacting his lawyer.When speaking to the officersStrangsaid he had tried to kill himself withViagraand Tylenol.

In his Jeep police found several gunsall loaded, including the .357 used to kill his wifeknives,handcuffs, latex gloves, duct tape, explosives and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Stranghas been in custody since Aug. 3, 2015.

Debate over Strang's guns

On his way into court Strangmade no comment to reporters, and during the day's proceedings showed little emotion.

Crown attorneyKellyKaipsaidthere is a "profound problem" with domestic violence in Saskatchewan and the suggestedsentence would senda strong message to reflect the impactStranghad on these two women.

Kaip has also asked for the forfeiture of all of Strang's guns, a prohibition frompossessingfirearms and a prohibition from contacting the victim's family.

Kaipsaid Strangwants to give some of his guns to a friend, an idea Kaipopposes. She said Strang'sJeep was filled with loaded firearms when he threatenedLynn Larsenand that those should be among the weapons forfeited.

Strang's attorney, Brian Smith, does not agree to the condition that Strangforfeit all of his firearms. He said that while the number of guns and ammunition in the Jeep "sounds alarming" to most people, it is not for an avid shooter.

The Crown's statement noted that Strang had no criminal record.

Family's victim impact statement

Lisa Strang was the Saskatchewan Party's longest serving employee, having worked for the political party as finance director for 11 years.

At the time of her death, Premier Brad Wall said her death had"left a hole" in the Saskatchewan Party family.

• Homicide victim Lisa Strang remembered by Premier Brad Wall

Her family wants Lisa to be rememberedas an animal lover, a needle worker and a fan of both the Roughriders and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Prior to her death she had expressed her dissatisfaction with her relationship and told a co-worker that she wanted to leave John. She had lost more than45 kg and was happier than she had been for some time. Co-workers described her as "glowing" as she prepared to leave her job for new opportunities.

Lisa Strang's parents were the first to give their victim impact statements. Lisa Strang was their only child and the couple spoke of their futurewithout Lisa and without grandchildren, but say they had lost her to JohnStrangmany years ago. They say what he did was "an act of savage cowardice."

'We miss you, Lisa,' says friend

Patrick Bundrock, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Party,gave avictim impact statement, calling Lisa "a dear and trusted colleague and valued member of our team and we will miss her tremendously."

Bundrocksaid she was a colleague but also a mentor and friend. Speaking directly to Strang he asked"Did my friend suffer?"

He said she was a meticulous and detail-oriented person who came in early and left late. He said she was famous in the office for her homemade baby blankets which she made for every newborn child in their "office family."

"Thinking of all the families in Saskatchewan today who have a baby blanket from Lisa makes me happy," he said.

He said sherememberedevery birthday, milestone and life event. Regardless of the occasion Lisa would have a card and a smile ready for her colleagues and friends.

"Through this tragedywe have all lost a friend, a gentle soul who cared about many and asked for very little in return," said Bundrock.

"We miss you, Lisa."

Outside court,Bundrock told reportershe was taken aback by one thing in particular Wednesday.

"Mr.Strangshowed more emotion about the disposition of his firearms potentially than he did thevictim impact statements," he said.

The judge will deliver her sentencing decisionOct. 25.