South Surrey mother Lisa Batstone 害羞草研究所� found guilty in March of second-degree murder in her daughter Teagan害羞草研究所檚 December 2014 death 害羞草研究所� should have to wait 16 to 18 years before she can apply for parole, Crown counsel submitted Wednesday.
The facts, prosecutor Christopher McPherson argued, 害羞草研究所渓ie squarely within the highest range of parole ineligibility.害羞草研究所�
Defence counsel agreed the offence was 害羞草研究所渙ne of the worst crimes,害羞草研究所� but submitted an ineligibility term of 10 years was appropriate, noting 害羞草研究所渦nless Miss Batstone is able to establish that she is fit for release, she will remain in jail for the rest of her life.害羞草研究所�
Crown says South Surrey mother who killed daughter should spend 16-18 years in jail before being eligible to apply for parole.
害羞草研究所� Peace Arch News (@PeaceArchNews)
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The conviction comes with an automatic life sentence. Lawyers are making submissions today on just how long Batstone 害羞草研究所� who smothered Teagan with a plastic bag 害羞草研究所� should remain ineligible for parole, and Justice Catherine Murray is hearing victim-impact statements, including from Teagan害羞草研究所檚 dad, Gabe Batstone.
Gabe Batstone told Murray he is haunted every day by all the little things he can no longer share with his daughter: trips to the grocery store and the park, comforting her.
害羞草研究所淚 miss everything, and that never goes away,害羞草研究所� he said.
He said he is angered at the impact her murder has had on his two young sons, describing the boys害羞草研究所� sadness, confusion, survivor害羞草研究所檚 guilt and more.
Gabe Batstone also expressed concern with the court process.
害羞草研究所淥ften not seen and difficult to prepare for is the slowness of this process,害羞草研究所� he told the court. 害羞草研究所淔our years later, just days before Father害羞草研究所檚 Day, I sit reliving the worst day of my life害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟
In finding Batstone guilty in March, Murray 害羞草研究所� noting the only issue for her to rule on was whether Batstone 害羞草研究所渉ad the requisite intent for second-degree murder害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� found 害羞草研究所渢he killing was deliberate.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he accused害羞草研究所檚 actions were purposeful and goal-driven,害羞草研究所� Murray said.
Batstone was charged after eight-year-old Teagan害羞草研究所檚 body was found in the trunk of a car in a cul-de-sac off Crescent Road on Dec. 10, 2014.
During trial, prosecutors pointed to the fact that Batstone never called 911, and that she left notes that read 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so sorry,害羞草研究所� as well as a four-page letter with phrases that included, 害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 imagine leaving here and leaving her to him,害羞草研究所� as among evidence that made it clear Batstone had intended to kill Teagan.
Defence counsel had argued it was 害羞草研究所渋mpossible to know害羞草研究所� what truly was in Batstone害羞草研究所檚 mind害羞草研究所� in the moments before she smothered her daughter.
In her reasons for judgment, Murray noted that Batstone 害羞草研究所渄id nothing to try to save害羞草研究所� Teagan.
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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