Quebec City man sentenced to life with no parole for 25 years for 1st-degree murder of sex worker

Eustachio Gallese, 51, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for the stabbing death of Marylne Levesque, whose body was found in a hotel room in the Quebec City borough of Sainte-Foy Jan. 22.

Gallesepleaded guiltyto first-degree murder when he appeared atthe Quebec City courthouse Thursday morning.

He was initially charged with second-degree murder, but on Feb. 24, his charges were upgraded.

Levesque, 22, was a sex worker in a massage parlour and had metGalleseat hotels on multiple occasions.

The Crown prosecutor told the courtGallese had developed feelings forLevesque and grew jealous and angry when she became more distant. She agreed to meet him at a restaurant on Jan. 22, then went with him to a hotel.

Galleseadmitted to planning the murder in advance, concealing a knife and stabbing the victim in the abdomen 30 times.

The Crown said Gallese had planned to take his own life after killing Levesquebut instead turned himself in to police.

Gallese was sentenced in 2006 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years for the 2004 second-degree murder of his ex-wife,Chantale Deschnes. According to parole documents, he struck her on the head with a hammer and stabbed her several times, enraged by her decision to leave him.

After serving 15 years, he was grantedday parolelast March, and he had beenliving in a halfway house at the time ofLevesque's death.

The Parole Board of Canada denied Gallese full parole last September, however, it extended his day parole with several conditions, listing hislikelihood of reoffending as "low to moderate."

Gallesehad a special arrangement with his case worker whichallowed him to have relations with women to meet his "sexual needs." As part of the conditions of his day parole, hewas required to disclose any relations he had with women to his parole officer.

The public outcry over that arrangement following Levesque's death, led provincial politicians and federal opposition MPsto demand an investigationinto the parole board's decision.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced in late January that the Correctional Service of Canada and the parole boardwould conduct a jointinvestigation "into all of the circumstances that led to the tragic death ofMarylne Levesque."