By Corey Fischer

Foerster Sentenced For ‘Horrific’ Murder

Jun 5, 2018 | 12:45 PM

Marie Van Diest, mother of murder victim Taylor Van Diest, speaks with media after sentencing of Matthew Foerster for second degree murder (Pete McIntyre/Beach Radio News photo)

Matthew Foerster showed no emotion as he was given a life sentence for the second degree murder of an Armstrong teenager.

A BC Supreme Court judge has ruled Foerster will have to serve 17 years before he is eligible for parole, for the beating death of 18 year old Taylor Van Diest on Halloween night 2011.

“This was a horrific murder. The (family’s) loss is incalculable,” said Justice Brenda Brown in her 20 minute ruling.

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Crown lawyer Chris McPherson says the judge agreed with a joint submission on sentence by the Crown and defence.

“It’s one of the reasons why a plea and a joint submission can be important because there will be no appeal from this,” McPherson told the media.

Taylor’s mother, Marie Van Diest, says the sentence starts from the time Foerster was arrested in 2012, meaning he could apply for parole in nine years, under the faint hope clause.

“That’s not very long for taking a life, particularly as brutally as he had taken Taylor’s life,” said Van Diest to media.

Van Diest says she was hoping the sentence would have been in the range of 20 years.

She was critical of the job the Crown did on the case.

“I believe his (McPherson’s) performance in and out of the courtroom was inadequate. I think there could have been a lot more effort put into it. That’s my opinion.”

The 32 year old Foerster’s lawyer and parents did not comment on the verdict.

Foerster had two previous convictions involving violence against women.

by Corey Fischer