Luciano Mariani sentenced to life for killing ex-girlfriend in Bowser, B.C., after court called the act “obscene brutality” and months in planning.
Killer Sentenced in Heinous 2021 Bowser Murder
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced Luciano Mariani to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years for the brutal 2021 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Caroline Bernard, in Bowser, B.C. The murder, described by the court as an “obscenely brutal” act, occurred while Bernard was asleep next to her young daughter.
Crime Committed with Planning and Precision
The court documents reveal that Mariani planned the killing over several months before entering Bernard’s home and fatally beating her with a baseball bat. The violent assault occurred in the early hours, while Bernard’s child was present in the bed. Mariani had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Legal Challenge to Parole Law
Though Mariani mounted a constitutional challenge to a Criminal Code provision mandating a 25-year parole ineligibility for first-degree murder, Justice Robin Baird ultimately ruled that the sentence was appropriate for the severity of the crime. The court had earlier agreed that applying a blanket provision to all offenders could be unconstitutional, but Baird emphasized that in this case, the mandatory punishment was justified.
Court Deems the Crime “Exceptionally Violent”
In his written ruling, Justice Baird condemned the murder as “exceptionally violent, cold-blooded and against a vulnerable former intimate partner.” He described the impact of Bernard’s death as “profound and permanent,” citing the trauma inflicted on her family, friends, and community.
Conditional Parole Review Still a Possibility
While Mariani is technically eligible to apply for a parole reduction after 15 years, Baird stressed that this is neither automatic nor guaranteed. The judge noted that even eligible murderers are routinely denied parole for decades, particularly those deemed high-risk or unremorseful.
Community Deeply Affected
The small community of Bowser, B.C., continues to reel from the killing, which Baird said had inflicted “enormous insult and injury” locally. Bernard was described in court as a well-loved and respected individual, whose loss is felt deeply across the community.
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