Three years after he helped an alleged group of killers force their victim into the back of a truck, Paul Fettig told a Calgary judge he is “absolutely sorry” for his role in the woman’s death. 

“I’m ashamed and I’m disappointed in myself. It’s not who I am,” said Fettig during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. “My addiction has taken me places I never wanted to go.”

Originally charged with manslaughter, Fettig pleaded guilty last September to a charge of forcible confinement.

On March 29, 2023, Tara Miller was removed from her home and forced into a truck while bound, bleeding and with her head covered. The next day, her body was found in a ditch near Okotoks. 

On Wednesday, Justice Harry Van Harten accepted a joint submission put forward by prosecutor Heather Morris and Fettig’s defence lawyer Gloria Froese for a three-and-a-half-year sentence.

Morris told Van Harten the case involves a “very unique set of circumstances.”

“He is not responsible for the ultimate result that happened here,” said Morris of Fettig’s role in the crime. 

Victim duct taped, bleeding

During his plea, court heard Fettig was at the scene borrowing a truck to use for moving. 

A video was played in court showing the comings and goings from Miller’s house on the night of her death. 

The video showed six people going in and out of Miller’s home, loading items into the cabs of two stolen trucks in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge. 

The video then shows Miller being removed from her home just after 9 p.m.

The confinement

She was shoeless, her arms were duct taped and her head was covered. Blood was coming through the head covering. 

Fettig helped three others force Miller into the back of one of the trucks.

In the video, Miller can be seen struggling, her legs kicking as she’s forced into the truck.

Four people got into the truck with Miller and drove off.

Fettig got into the other vehicle and drove away.

‘I have to change’

The next day, Miller’s body was discovered off a secondary highway east of Okotoks. She had been beaten and strangled. 

“He knew none of these people,” said Froese of her client’s role in the crime. “He had no idea what this was about.”

Froese said her client has completed a number of programs while in jail and is committed to changing. She pointed out that he has no prior convictions for any crimes involving violence. 

“I have to change,” said Fettig. “I’m determined to do the best I can to do better going forward.”

‘Too little too late’

Fettig told the court that his role in the killing is “something I’m going to be hanging onto for the rest of my life.”

In issuing his apology, Fettig said: “I know … it’s too little too late.”

But the judge disagreed.

“In all [my] years, I don’t think it’s ever right to say too little too late,” said Van Harten.

“I don’t believe that to be the case.”

With credit for the time he’s already served, Fettig has about a year and four months left on his sentence. 

Four others facing first-degree murder charges are set to go on trial next week.