Thread by @CBCAlerts

In one hour. a Toronto judge is due to announce how long serial killer Bruce McArthur will stay in prison before he can apply for parole. The Crown wants him to be at least 116 before he's eligible, after he killed these 8 men between 2010 and 2017: cbc.ca/1.5003393

The Toronto sentencing has been slightly delayed as the judge deals with another matter. For A full overview of the case against Bruce McArthur, and the investigation that led to the serial killer's arrest, is here: cbc.ca/1.5009291

Justice John McMahon has told the courtroom that it will take him 'a bit of time' to read out his sentence decision. For details from the court, follow these CBC staff: @nicolebrockbank, @jlancasterCBC, @IoannaCBC, @fitzpatrick_m and @Justin_Ling.

The sentencing of Bruce McArthur is finally underway in the deaths of Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40; Abdulbasir Faizi, 44; Andrew Kinsman, 49; Selim Esen, 44; Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37; Dean Lisowick, 47; Soroush Mahmudi, 50; and Majeed Kayhan, 58.

Justice John McMahon is reviewing the facts of the case now. He says McArthur killed, staged and took photos of his 8 victims for his own 'perverse' sexual gratification and then dismembered his victims and hid their remains in planters and one of Toronto's many ravines.

The judge notes that negotiations for a guilty plea by Bruce McArthur had been going on for some months. And he makes a point of saying the former landscaper would likely have murdered more people; he didn’t stop killing but was apprehended.

Justice McMahon says officers bursting into McArthur's apartment on Jan. 18, 2018 almost certainly saved the life of a man found bound to the bed. 'I have no hesitation in concluding, were it not for the excellent police intervention... "John" would have been the 9th victim.'

Toronto judge says McArthur, 67, is unlikely to ever see the outside of a prison again, given the number and nature of his crimes. Murder carries an automatic life sentence in Canada; the Crown wants no parole eligibility for 50 years; the defence is arguing for 25 years.

From CBC's Nicole Brockbank @nicolebrockbank: McMahon says there have been about 26 cases that have dealt with this issue since the law changed for consecutive sentences in 2011. In about 15 of those cases, the judge sentenced the offender to consecutive sentences, he says.

Sentencing is now back in session after a break. Judge calls Bruce McArthur a sexual predator who lured and killed his victims for his own 'warped sexual gratification' -- and calls that an 'extremely aggravating' factor in sentencing.

Other aggravating factors cited as judge calls McArthur 'pure evil':
- He lured immigrants and men with mental health issues.
- He subjected them to slow, painful deaths by ligature.
- He didn't even use names to label some death photo files, calling them 'number 4, number 5.'

Another major aggravating factor was the impact the 8 deaths had on the victims' families and people in Toronto's LGBT community, says the judge. They sought the missing men for years in some cases, then had to learn from police how they died and how their bodies were handled.

McMahon uses phrases like 'excruciating pain' and 'collective nightmare' to describe those who lost loved ones. He cites a victim impact statement that said a friend's heart 'fractured' at news of Andrew Kinsman's death. 'It didn't break. Breaks heal. Fractures never really do.'

Judge now on mitigating factors in McArthur case:
- Guilty plea means sparing a graphic trial that would have been a nightmare for everyone.
- He had no criminal record until he was in his 50s.
- He has type 2 diabetes, and has family members who are suffering over his crimes.

But Justice McMahon says: 'This sentence must reflect society's revulsion for such depravity and violence.' He says the most important factor in sentencing the accused is keeping the public safe from a serial killer.

From CBC's John Lancaster @jlancasterCBC: 'There’s a fine line between retribution and vengeance,” says the judge about imposing a sentence where there is no hope of parole. but in this case 'it’s not an unreasonable' proposition.

From CBC's Justin Ling @Justin_Ling: McMahon says McArthur's chances of parole at 91 would be 'remote.' He adds that if he were paroled, given his age, it's unlikely he'll pose a threat. However, he notes he must consider 'the importance of symbolism' in his sentence.

BREAKING: Justice John McMahon sentences serial killer Bruce McArthur to life imprisonment, with no parole eligibility for 25 years, on 8 counts of 1st-degree murder. McArthur will be eligible for parole when he's 91 years old.