Life Imprisonment for First-Degree Murder
A British Columbia Supreme Court justice sentenced 25-year-old Zain Xavier Wood to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years. Wood stands convicted of first-degree murder in the 2023 stabbing death of 22-year-old Isabelle Thomas, which occurred in her Prince George home in front of her two young daughters, aged six years and six months.
The attack took place at the Alpine Village townhouse complex. Wood entered the residence, remained inside for about 35 seconds, and fatally stabbed Thomas 16 times on the second floor.
Judicial Remarks on the Crime
During the sentencing, Justice Michael Tammen described the offense as extremely aggravated, even among first-degree murders. “Ms. Thomas was an Indigenous woman who was brutally murdered within the sanctity of her own home. Mr. Wood killed Ms. Thomas in the presence of her six-year-old daughter who witnessed the killing of her mother and saw her mother die from her injuries,” Tammen stated.
He emphasized the unimaginable devastation to Thomas’s daughters, noting that no legal remedy can fully repair the pain inflicted on the surviving family.
Victim’s Life and Legacy
Isabelle Thomas, born and raised in Prince George and a member of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, worked as a dietary aide. Friends and family remember her as a kind, loving woman with ambitious plans for her future.
Perpetrator’s Background and Claims
At the time of the incident, Wood was under house arrest for a prior offense and wore an electronic ankle monitor. He testified that he entered the home to steal a PlayStation 4 to fund his legal fees and stabbed Thomas after she startled him. Wood also claimed a brief romantic involvement with her in 2019.
Justice Tammen dismissed Wood’s account as “ludicrous” and rejected his assertions of drug use and auditory hallucinations during the crime. The judge characterized the murder as “brutal, savage, callous, premeditated, and planned over a period of time.”
Family’s Victim Impact Statements
Thomas’s mother, Leslie Thomas, delivered a victim impact statement portraying her daughter as joyful, compassionate, and deeply tied to her family, friends, and cultural heritage. “These two children will now grow up in a world forever changed, carrying a loss no child should ever have to bear,” she said.
Leslie Thomas highlighted systemic shortcomings, pointing out that Wood’s ankle monitor failed to prevent the tragedy. “An ankle monitor does not provide constant protection. Tracking is often not continuous and may require a police officer or bail supervisor to actively request location data,” she explained. “If no one is watching, no alarm is raised.” She argued that proactive supervision could have saved her daughter’s life.
Sentence Details
First-degree murder in Canada mandates a life sentence with 25 years without parole. However, Wood can apply for parole ineligibility reduction after 15 years. The court also imposed a lifetime firearms prohibition and no-contact orders protecting Thomas’s family, friends, and witnesses.
