Melinda Vasilije's family speaks as killer sentenced to 16 years

Ager Hasan, the man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend Melinda Vasilije to death in 2017, will spend 16 years in custody before becoming eligible for parole.

Ager Hasan, the man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend Melinda Vasilije to death in 2017, will spend 16 years in custody before becoming eligible for parole.

A judge delivered the sentence in court in Kitchener Wednesday. In May, Hasan was found guilty of second-degree murder in Vasilije’s death. Having already served six years behind bars, the soonest he could be released is 2033. At that time Hasan will be 41-year-old.

The ruling comes more than six years after Vasilije was murdered in her Kitchener apartment and five months since the start of the trial.

Vasilije’s mother, sister and a number of other family members have been in court every single day.

“The past six and a half years, it's been hard, emotional, aggravating, upsetting,” said Jasmina Predic, Vasilije’s aunt, speaking outside the courthouse.

While the family is glad the trial is finished and happy to see Hasan remain behind bars, they say the ordeal will never truly end.

“It's never over for the victims’ families, especially for us,” Predic said. “Melinda's gone forever. She's never coming back and I don't agree that he should even be allowed eligibility for any type of parole.”