A judge has determined that Deborah Belyea (right) will not be eligible for parole for 12 years after being convicted of second-degree murder. (Photo: CHAT News Today)

By Eli J. Ridder, Regan Tate

Southern Alberta woman ineligible for parole for 12 years following murder conviction

Feb 12, 2024 | 4:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Deborah Belyea, convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her husband and former Cypress County councillor Alfred Belyea, will be ineligible for parole for 12 years.

The 71-year-old Suffield woman’s murder conviction was handed down after a seven-day trial in January 2024.

It is expected that she will serve a life sentence.

Belyea received an additional three years in federal prison for indignity to a human body, the other crime she was convicted of, that she will serve concurrently with her life sentence.

Unlike first-degree murder, which has no chance of parole for 25 years, parole eligibility for second-degree can range from 10 to 25 years, at the discretion of the court.

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Justice Dallas Miller, who presided over the judge-only trial, said he agreed with the defense that the case was “truly unique” because Belyea’s daughters appeared to want eligibility sooner rather than later.

Each one of Belyea’s daughters gave victim impact statements.

They all outlined the grief and anxiety they dealt with daily since the death of their father Alfred, but said they remain close with their mother.

The prosecution argued for 16 years before Belyea would be eligible for parole, while the defense argued that should happen after 10 to 12 years.

Considering that Belyea had already served eight months in custody after her arrest in October 2021, she would be eligible for parole by 2035.

Belyea’s daughters live in British Columbia and were hoping she would be imprisoned there.

While the court’s suggestion is nonbinding, Justice Miller recommended Belyea be placed in a B.C. jail.

The justice allowed Belyea’s daughter Trina to hug her mother before she was escorted out of the courtroom.

The two were in tears as they embraced for several minutes.

READ MORE: Southern Albertan found guilty of second-degree murder

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