Barbara Anne Parrish, 34, Kentville NS
Barbara Anne Parrish, 34, was murdered by her common-law partner on January 4, 1991 at approximately 9:45pm. She died from a single, fatal gunshot wound to the neck.
Barbara and her partner of approximately 10 years were described as very nice people who seemed to “get along so well.”
Barbara worked as a Clerk at Cobi Food’s Head Office in Port Williams, while her common-law partner worked at Cobi’s Kentville plant.
In an Agreed Statement of Fact, her common-law partner told RCMP that he intended to clean his gun (a lever action hunting rifle), and while doing so, got into an argument with Barbara over his drinking. Her common-law partner went into the hallway, turned, raised the gun and pointed it at Barbara as she stood in the kitchen. The gun discharged, and Barbara fell to the floor.
The next morning, a friend of the couple came to the house, who, seeing Barbara on the floor, called to her, thinking she had passed out. The friend then woke her common-law partner, who was sleeping on the chesterfield in the living room. He appeared to have been drinking heavily. A breathalyzer, taken six hours following the fatal incident, indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.135.
Barbara’s common-law partner, age 57, was charged with second degree murder and found guilty. In 1992 he filed an Appeal of his conviction. The Appeal was dismissed.