'Near murder': Judge sentences Vernon woman who killed friend with wine bottle

Paige Howse killed her one-time friend Alishia Lemp by hitting her with a 1.5-litre wine bottle. She continued to hit Lemp as she fell and hit her when she was on the ground https://infotel.ca/newsitem/brutal-beating-crown-wants-9-years-for-women-who-killed-friend-with-wine-bottle/it104805 . She didn't call 911, but instead messaged a friend and asked if he knew CPR and to bring more booze to her motel room. At some point, Howse then dragged Lemp's body into the bathroom of the cheap Vernon motel where they were both staying. It was more than 24 hours after Lemp died that her body was discovered. A year later, Howse was arrested https://infotel.ca/newsitem/woman-charged-with-murder-after-death-at-vernon-motel-released-on-bail/it92545 and last fall she pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Justice Sheri Ann Donegan called Paige Howse's actions "near murder" during a sentencing hearing at the Vernon courthouse today, May 31. Howse sat in the dock dressed in purple prison garb waiting to hear how long the Justice would send her to prison. She also took the opportunity to address Lemp's family sitting in the public gallery at the courthouse. "I want to apologize to Alishia's family," Howse told the court. "A mother is without her daughter, a sister without a sister, and a family without a loved one." Howse said she hoped the family would have acceptance, understanding and mercy. The court heard how in February 2020 the two had been friends and both staying at Canada's Best Value Inn and Suites on 32 Street in Vernon. They new each other from working in the sex trade and they'd been to the casino together that night. CCTV footage showed Lemp was clearly drunk when they got back shortly after 11 p.m. Details of what took place in the motel room after that aren't 100 per cent clear – Howse says she doesn't remember. But hotel guests reported yelling, screaming and banging coming from their room. One guest said it sounded like "sex noises" and continued for about three hours throughout the night. Lemp was still alive the next morning as she texted her stepdad and asked for a lift. Sometime after that, the situation escalated. The two women fought and Howse was left with two black eyes and broken fingernails. At some point, Howse struck Lemp with the wine bottle. The room was found trashed and covered with blood splatter. Crown prosecutors wanted Howse to spend between seven to nine years in jail. The defence asked for four years. In reading out her sentence, Justice Donegan highlighted Howse's unstable upbringing. Her grandparents had attended residential school and her parents struggled with substance abuse. Howse herself started taking drugs at 11 years old, had been sexually abused and had a long history of substance use. She'd also recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had numerous spells in psychiatric wards. She'd shown psychotic delusions when interviewed by police and had had multiple psychotic episodes. The court heard how she'd had some periods of stability in her life and had finished high school when in her early 20s and worked as a care aid. However, she lost custody of her now 12-year-old son and slipped into substance use. While in prison awaiting trial she'd done well in rehab but was hindered by recurring psychotic episodes. The court heard how she was a high risk to re-offend. However, Justice Donagan sentenced her to five years in jail, which having spent more than two years awaiting trial, will leave Howse with 20 months left behind bars. She'll then have to spend three years under strict probation. To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer mailto:bbulmer@infonews.ca  or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .