EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: This story contains graphic and disturbing details.
A 21-year-old woman who beat a 46-year-old woman to death four years ago has been sentenced to 12 months of custody and supervision after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Justice Bonnie Tulloch described the assault as a SA国际影视传媒渂rutal and senseless actSA国际影视传媒� that occurred after both women had been drinking at the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 home.
The offender SA国际影视传媒� age 17 at the time SA国际影视传媒� left and returned when she realized she was missing her cellphone. She suspected the victim had taken it.
Shortly thereafter, she repeatedly punched the victim in the face and head and continued the beating even after the woman was bloodied and stopped moving.
SA国际影视传媒淗earing the family describe their loved one and the tremendous loss suffered at the hands of (the offender) was heartbreaking,SA国际影视传媒� Tulloch stated in her Nov. 10 sentencing decision. SA国际影视传媒淭here is no doubt that this brutal and senseless act has changed their lives forever. It has interfered with their feelings of safety and their grief is a life sentence. It is never-ending and palpable even after waiting over four years to talk about the hole (the victimSA国际影视传媒檚) death has left in their lives.SA国际影视传媒�
The offender followed the beating by stealing items from the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 home and then took her vehicle, which she SA国际影视传媒渄itchedSA国际影视传媒� on the road. She never sought medical help for the victim.
SA国际影视传媒淭his young personSA国际影视传媒檚 behaviour can only be described as shocking SA国际影视传媒� serious bodily harm was easily foreseeable in these circumstances,SA国际影视传媒� Tulloch stated. SA国际影视传媒淭he accused presented as callous and uncaring to the extreme.SA国际影视传媒�
Initially charged with second-degree murder, the offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter a two years after the incident.
The maximum sentence, set by Parliament, that could be given under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for manslaughter is three years of combined custody and conditional community supervision from the date the crime was committed.
Tulloch noted that the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 death was SA国际影视传媒渄ifficult to predictSA国际影视传媒� and her high level of intoxication SA国际影视传媒� five times the legal limit SA国际影视传媒� was a contributing factor.
After serving 67 days in a young offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 facility, the offender was released on bail to live with her parents in March 2020 while her court case was still in progress. She reportedly abided by all conditions placed on her.
Since the tragic incident, the offender says she quit consuming alcohol and drugs and has been SA国际影视传媒渃oncentrating on making a good life for her daughter,SA国际影视传媒� according to the court transcript.
A psychiatrist found that the offender, who didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a prior criminal record, poses a low to moderate risk of reoffending and a high chance of rehabilitation.
The first six months of her sentence will be served in secure custody. That will be followed by supervision in the community. A year of probation will follow.
The Crown prosecutor sought 12 to 15 months of secure custody for the offender, then six months of supervision and 12 months of probation.
The defence lawyer recommended a custody and supervision order of 12 to 18 months with one day of open custody and the remainder under a conditional supervision order.
The offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 home life was disrupted as a child when social services took her away at age 10 due to ongoing drinking and violence between her adoptive parents. She told a probation officer that she saw her father beat up her mother every five or six days.
The psychiatrist determined that the offender should participate in one-on-one counselling that focuses on community reintegration SA国际影视传媒渋n coming to terms with the guilt of the offence and to increase her interpersonal skills. This intervention should focus on relapse prevention which in the doctorSA国际影视传媒檚 opinion, could be achieved by a local community mental health service,SA国际影视传媒� the sentencing decision reads.
