'Joel Clow is a very dangerous man,' says sister of murdered woman Traci Lynch

Joel Clow was sentenced Monday morning to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.

Seated in a glassed-in prisoners' booth in Charlottetown Supreme Court, the 48-year-old former fisherman showed no emotion as the sentence came down.Earlier, two sisters of TraciLynch had wept openly in court as they read victim impact statements, while members of their family sat in the publicgallery.

Clow, dressed in a blue shirt and blue tie, listened intently as they spoke.

"I can't imagine the suffering my sister endured on that last, terrible night of her life," Terri Durant told court. "Why would anyone do that? She had her flaws, but she was a human being Joel Clow is a very dangerous man. As her family, we are serving a life sentence."

Clow was found guilty in July in P.E.I. Supreme Court of the second-degree murder of Lynch.

At sentencing Monday, Clow declined to speak before sentence was handed down.

His voice was clear and steady, however, as he stood up to plead guilty to one count of indecent interference with human remains, in connection with Lynch's death.

Justice Nancy Key told courtClowshowsno remorse for what he did.

"In the dark of night, JoelClowtried to hide the body ofTraciLynch," said Key, as she reviewed the incident ofJuly, 2015.Lynch'sbody was found in a wheelbarrow, hidden onClow'sproperty in Pleasant Grove, P.E.I.

JoelClowtook Traci from us and we will never be the same.- Kathy MacDonald

After a violent struggle,Clowripped a shirt worn by Lynch, knotted it in three places and used it to dragher by the neck, face down across a road, before placing her body in the wheelbarrow, the judge found.

Key cited these actions specifically as aggravating factors, in addition to Clow's efforts to hide Lynch's body, cleaning his home and throwing out her clothing after he killed her to hide evidence.

• Closing arguments: Lawyers offer 2 versions of Joel Clow's killing of Traci Lynch

"Court is concerned with the realistic threat to reoffend," said Key. "I saw no remorse, including the opportunity this morning to speak before sentencing."

Key's sentence life in prison with no eligibility to apply for parole for 17 years falls between the written recommendations of the Crown and defence.Crown prosecutor Cindy Wedge had suggested a minimum of 22 years.Defence lawyers Joel Pink and Nathan Sutherland had recommended 15 years.

During the trial, defence lawyers had argued Clow was too high on drugs to know what he was doing.

Justice Key rejected that argument, saying that his actions earlier in the evening of the killing showed he had some presence of mind.

Criminal record begins in 1989

The judge also made note of Clow'scriminal record, which datesback to 1989. She made special note of his conviction in 2011 for assault, careless use of a firearm and uttering threats, connected to a domestic dispute.

Key noted to the court that Clow declined to take part in an interview for a pre-sentence report being prepared for this case, so she reviewed the 2011 report on him. Key said Clowshowed no sign of remorse for his actions in that report either.

Justice Key cited Clow's substance abuse problems as a mitigating factor in determining his sentence.She noted he'd been diagnosed with adult ADHD and an anxiety disorder, but had stopped taking his prescribed medications in the months before he murdered Lynch.

After the 2011 incident, he served a nine-month jail sentence and completed an anger management course during this three years on probation.

• 'I did not intend to kill her': Joel Clow told police he was going through drug withdrawal

"Addictions returned soon after probation ended. That speaks to his character and the risk to reoffend," said Key."The offender has shown no remorse, and blamedthe victim for getting him involved in drugs and for provoking his violentactions."

The public gallery was full at Monday's sentencing, with family and friends of TraciLynch sitting on one side, and family and friends of Joel Clow on the other.

Kathy MacDonald, one of Lynch's sisters, stood in court to read a victim impact statement on behalf of their mother, NormaLynch.MacDonald turned to face Clow in the prisoner's box as she read her mother's words.

"She was a quiet, private person," said MacDonald. "Joel Clow took Traci from us and we will never be the same."

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