A local woman who was charged with being an accessory after the fact in conjunction with a murder in the Fairview area last January has been released.

Jolyn Ten Hove, 38, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of George William McDonald, 40, on Jan. 20. She pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact earlier this month in Red Deer provincial court.

In November, Martin Munro, 37, of Miramichi, New Brunswick, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of McDonald, his longtime friend. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

He was also originally charged with second-degree murder in the case.

In Ten Hove’s sentencing hearing which took place last Friday in court, Judge John Holmes said he was satisfied that the time Ten Hove had served in custody since January was sufficient. He placed her on two years probation.

In December 2010, Munro and Ten Hove, who were common-law spouses and living together in Red Deer at Ten Hove’s home, went to New Brunswick to spend Christmas with Munro’s family.

There, they spent time with McDonald. McDonald told the couple that he wanted to come to Alberta and spend time with friends in Sylvan Lake. On Jan. 12, after his accommodation arrangements fell through in Sylvan Lake, Munro invited him to stay at the home he shared with Ten Hove.

Over the course of his stay, McDonald and Ten Hove drank together.

On the evening of Jan. 19, Munro, Ten Hove and McDonald consumed alcohol. At around 1 a.m. on Jan. 20, McDonald walked over to Ten Hove and grabbed her inappropriately in front of Munro. A fight them broke out between the two men and Munro punched McDonald in the face. Ten Hove was told by Munro to go and stay in the bathroom.

McDonald was about to leave the residence when he lunged at Munro and they fell to the floor. Munro wrapped his arm around McDonald’s head and held on until McDonald went limp.

On Friday court heard that Ten Hove was told by Munro to get a knife and put it in the hand of McDonald to make it look like Munro was acting out of self-defense once she had come out of the bathroom. They then agreed to tell the police McDonald’s death was the result of self-defense.

Ten Hove, although not initially, told the RCMP the truth.

“This was an impulsive act, however Miss Ten Hove did not retract her story. She tried to help Mr. Munro. This crime constitutes interference with justice,” said Holmes.

In addition to her release, Ten Hove was ordered to provide a sample of her DNA.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com