“Mom’s an angel” – Calgary man sentenced for manslaughter, indignity of common-law wife

It wasn’t the result they were hoping for, but family members of a woman who was strangled to death and whose body was entombed in cement says they accept the sentence of her former common-law husband.

“We’re satisfied with what he got and he’ll pay his time,” Peggy Mitchell said, Wednesday in Calgary, after Allan Shyback, 40, was sentenced to seven years in prison for killing her daughter, Lisa, 31.

Shyback was found guilty of manslaughter and committing indignity to a body earlier this year, after originally being charged with second-degree murder.

With time served, he’s only scheduled to serve just under three more years.

The couple had two children, who are now staying with Peggy.

“They understand that their dad’s with the police and their mom’s an angel,” she said. “When they are ready, then it’s going to be totally up to them, it’s their lives, their dad, so you can’t take away someone’s dad.”

“It’s going to be a very tough conversation.”

During trial, Shyback testified he had an on-again/off-again relationship with Mitchell for about 10 years, but that he also endured years of abuse from her.

Then in October 2012, Shyback said she came at him with a knife and that he defended himself, not intending to fatally strangle her.

He testified that he panicked, put the body in a container and then cemented it in the wall of their basement home.

It wasn’t until over a year after Mitchell’s disappearance in 2014, that a “Mr. Big” police operation led to Shyback’s arrest and subsequent charges.

Shyback did apologize in court, on Wednesday, and defence lawyer Balfour Der said he is remorseful.

“He had offered to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge early on in the proceedings and that was on his instruction,” he said. “It’s probably fair to say that he’s good with it now.”

“Mr. Shyback is totally committed to trying to get his children back and to be reunited as a family,” Der said, adding his client recognizes the process will be an uphill battle.

Mitchell’s sister-in-law, Sarah Mitchell, pointed out Shyback did not admit to anything, until he was behind bars. “He looked us all in the eye and knew how much we hurt,” she said.

The Crown was hoping for a much harsher penalty: 10 years for the manslaughter and three to five years for the indignity. Prosecutor Jayme Williams said it’s too early to say if there will be an appeal.

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