The second of two escaped inmates convicted of murdering Greater Victoria man Martin Payne was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison with no parole for 25 years.

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch murdered the 60-year-old father in his rural home in July 2019 after the pair escaped Metchosin含羞草研究社檚 William Head prison.

Armitage appeared in a Vancouver courtroom for his sentencing on Wednesday morning. He was removed at the mid-point of last year含羞草研究社檚 first-degree murder trial, which spanned five weeks in November and December, after changing his initial plea from not guilty to guilty.

First-degree murder comes with an automatic sentence of life with no eligibility for parole for 25 years, which Busch received in December.

Payne含羞草研究社檚 family on Wednesday repeated . Those addresses described the joyous and loving person Payne was, along with the mental anguish his loved ones have endured since the murder. The friends and family members who spoke on Wednesday reiterated how they含羞草研究社檙e constantly haunted by how the kind and gentle Payne含羞草研究社檚 last moments were filled with horror, trauma and pain.

含羞草研究社淎s if losing him weren含羞草研究社檛 hard enough, we had to lose him in this terrifying way, it breaks my heart that this lovely, kind man had to suffer this cruel end,含羞草研究社� said Payne含羞草研究社檚 ex-wife Catherine. 含羞草研究社淢y body cringes at the thought of the nightmare he had to endure. I don含羞草研究社檛 understand how anyone can treat another human being in this inhumane, evil way.含羞草研究社�

Payne含羞草研究社檚 sister Colleen said the senseless actions of the inmates will weigh heavy on the family含羞草研究社檚 shoulders for the rest of their lives. His daughter Calla said she and her future children have been condemned to their own life sentences from the trauma that will persist through future generations of their family.

Colleen addressed Armitage directly, saying she couldn含羞草研究社檛 help but think he had a lifetime of trauma, pain and loss that led to where he is today. She then called on the man to seek help available in the prison system to 含羞草研究社渓ook inside your heart and soul and try to heal your own inner pain.含羞草研究社�

Judge David Crossin, who presided over the trial, said he regrets he cannot mend loved ones含羞草研究社� broken souls and deep sadness, or the trauma inflicted on the family. He called the murder of the unarmed man brutal, senseless, shocking and grotesque.

含羞草研究社淚t was, I must say, absolutely cowardly without qualification,含羞草研究社� Crossin said.

Unlike Busch, Armitage addressed the family during the hearing, saying that he was disgusted with himself.

During the trial, the court heard Armitage含羞草研究社檚 fingerprints were found on various items inside Payne含羞草研究社檚 home and his stolen truck. The inmate含羞草研究社檚 DNA was on shoes and clothing that were recovered from garbage bags in the victim含羞草研究社檚 home that were filled with bloody garments, linens and other items.

Someone also used Payne含羞草研究社檚 computer to search 含羞草研究社淎rmitage含羞草研究社� while he would含羞草研究社檝e been at work and witness testimony showed Armitage used Payne含羞草研究社檚 landline to make calls inquiring about private water taxis to the mainland.

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