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The court heard that MacDonald told Johnson to “finish her off.”

At one point, he stopped and cut her throat with a hooked knife MacDonald had obtained. The prosecutor said when Miller continued to make noise in the trunk, MacDonald again urged her common-law partner to “finish it,” and he opened the trunk and slit Miller’s throat a second time.

The pair went to another residence in Sheet Harbour late that night, where tarps and tools were laid out on the lawn.

I must face a life where I will always grieve my daughter… my dreams for her have vanished. I’m left with endless pain

Johnson used an axe and hand saw to remove Miller’s head and hands, “to prevent her identification through dental and fingerprint records,” according to the agreed statement of facts.

Catie’s mother, Terry Miller, spoke in court as two photographs of her daughter were held nearby her.

“I must face a life where I will always grieve my daughter… my dreams for her have vanished. I’m left with endless pain,” she said.

“Evil visited our family… I’m continuously asking ‘why, why, why?”‘

Catie, who had a young son, was last in contact with her family on the day of her death, and was reported missing a few days later.

Months later, MacDonald took undercover officers to the location where Miller’s torso was hidden in Lawrencetown, tied to a tree.

The victim’s father, John Miller, says his grandson will need “emotional and financial support.”

“There’s no reason for the viciousness and disrespect, there’s no reason,” he said, weeping in court.

After hearing the statement of facts, Johnson declined to make any comment to the court.

MacDonald spoke briefly, offering an apology to Catie’s father and son.

“I’m very sorry to John (Miller)…in the death of Catie, a young mother and daughter,” she said.

“There are no words that I can say for either of you to forgive me for taking Catie’s life. I just hope that one day that God chooses to forgive me on your behalf.”