Crown seeks 11 years for crack killer Ryan Armstrong

Ryan Jack Armstrong killed Victoria Norma Heppner on March 29, 2016 with what he said was a single blow to the back of her head with a hammer while she was sitting on his bed. She was 28 years old. Armstrong was busted by police at the scene of her burning body the next day. He was originally charged with second-degree murder. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and one count of improperly or indecently offering an indignity to human remains.

When the judge asked why charges were downgraded the crown replied that Armstrong’s crack cocaine use might have caused “a form of induced psychosis” – meaning the death met the test for the lesser charge.