A woman who planned and watched the killing of a man she thought was coming after her must serve 13 years of her life sentence in prison before she can apply for parole.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Powers imposed the longer than required period of parole ineligibility on Ruby Harry Friday, splitting the difference between the Crown request for 14 years and the defence plea for 12 years.

Harry, 42, pleaded guilty Thursday to the second-degree murder of Gary Wade Cavanagh, who was shot once in the head in his North Shore travel trailer Oct. 29, 2006.

Harry did not pull the trigger, Justice Powers noted, but got the rifle and put together the crude plan that ended with Cavanagh’s death.

Corbin Bob fired the fatal bullet from a .270-calibre rifle as the victim stood in the doorway, having answered Harry’s knock. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in jail.

Both Harry and Bob were charged with first-degree murder. The Crown agreed to accept the lesser pleas largely because both of them were high on cocaine and alcohol at the time.

Justice Powers agreed the killing was particularly brutal. It was made worse by the fact Harry pre-planned portions of it.

Despite that, Powers said he gave Harry a “bit of a break,” mostly because it’s possible her difficult childhood led to her later drug use and the problems addiction caused.

Harry was sexually and physically abused for years by a particularly nasty uncle, the court said. She co-operated with police who investigated the man, which led to her being ostracized by her family and reserve.

Powers said the woman’s background is not justification nor excuse for what happened, but perhaps somewhat of an explanation.

“Her behaviour is not something civilized society can tolerate,” the judge said.