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Winnipeg man admits to gruesome murder of family friend

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 01/9/2012 4:46 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 01/9/2012 6:27 PM | Updates

Jennifer Paraton

A Winnipeg man has admitted to choking a family friend unconscious, sexually assaulting her and then slitting her throat before calmly calling 911 an hour later to report the slaying.

Maxwell Zavitz, 23, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to second-degree murder in exchange for the Crown dropping a more serious charge of first-degree murder. He was given a mandatory life sentence, which includes no parole eligibility for at least 20 years. The minimum for second-degree murder is 10 years, while the maximum is 25 years.

Jennifer Paraton, 25, died of gruesome injuries inside her Carlton Street apartment block in August 2010. Details of her killing were revealed for the first time at the sentencing hearing.

Zavitz had befriended Paraton and her husband and accepted an offer to move in with them, court was told. On the day of the killing, he got into an argument with Paraton about her budding photography career, which included criticism of some of her work.

Zavitz admits he "snapped" and wrapped his hands around her throat until her lifeless body slumped to the ground. He then repeatedly sexually assaulted her before realizing she was still alive, court was told.

Zavitz then obtained a butcher knife from the kitchen and slit her throat. He notified police later that afternoon and was found standing outside the downtown block, covered in blood.

"I killed her. I’m guilty. I want to go to jail forever," he told officers. Zavitz does have a history of mental illness but did not fight the murder charge on the grounds he may have been not criminally responsible.

Paraton’s parents, brother and husband all gave emotional victim impact statements in court Monday in which they described Zavitz’s betrayal and their deep sense of anger and loss.

"This was a senseless and brutal killing. She didn’t deserve this. He said he was her friend," said her mother, Lydia Richard.

Zavitz has no prior criminal record.

Read more on the case in tomorrow's Winnipeg Free Press.

www.mikeoncrime.com

History

Updated on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 6:27 PM CST: Adds when murder took place

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