McKay was convicted of second-degree murder in 2020, but the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal overturned the convicted in 2024 and sent it back for a new trial. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Jason McKay pleads guilty in death of wife ahead of second murder trial

By Lisa Schick Jan 29, 2026 | 10:01 AM

Jason McKay is no longer looking ahead to a second murder trial, instead he’ll be heading toward a sentencing hearing.

McKay was set to start a second murder trial soon in the 2017 death of his wife, Jenny, but he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last week.

In 2020, McKay was found guilty of second-degree murder for stabbing his wife 24 times. The killing was described as “brutal and bizarre” in court documents. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.

Four years later, the conviction was overturned on appeal and a new trial was ordered.

In the original trial, McKay’s defence had argued he didn’t have the intent required for a second-degree murder conviction because he was in a blackout state from drugs and alcohol.

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal found the original judge erred when they didn’t take into account evidence from an expert about alcohol-induced amnesia and didn’t consider the defence that McKay was responding to provocation from his wife.

Now, McKay has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder charge in the case and sentencing arguments are set to start Feb. 4.