N.S. teen gets adult sentence for killing woman with stolen car
Canadian Press, various newspapers across Canada, By JAMES KELLER, January 11, 2006
HALIFAX (CP) - Relatives of a 52-year-old mother of three killed by a teenage car thief trying to elude police say they are satisfied with the adult sentence given to the youth.
Archibald Billard, 17, of Dartmouth, N.S., was sentenced Wednesday to 5 1/2 years in custody. He's already served almost one year of that sentence in a youth detention centre. The judge hearing the case said a shorter youth sentence wouldn't reflect the severity of the crime: a high-speed car chase that resulted in the death of teacher's aide Theresa McEvoy.
The victim's brother, Joe McEvoy, told reporters the adult sentence was needed to publicly denounce what Billard did.
"There are no winners in this case," said McEvoy, flanked by his sister's family. "It is important that a strong message be sent that violent acts such as this will not be tolerated."
McEvoy was driving in Halifax on Oct. 14, 2004 when her station wagon was broadsided by a stolen car driven by Billard, who was 16 at the time.
McEvoy died of extensive head and chest injuries.
The teen had stolen the car from nearby Lower Sackville and was driving with four passengers, who each suffered minor injuries.
Billard told police he was so high on marijuana he had no idea how fast he was driving, though a police officer estimated the speed at more than 100 kilometres per hour.
The youth later pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving while evading police causing death.
Judge James Burrill said the chase, followed by a chase on foot through several backyards, was evidence of a calculated attempt to escape capture.
"You have caused great harm by the commission of your crime," Burrill told Billard, who did not speak during the sentencing.
"You have caused immeasurable harm . . . and showed a total lack of respect for other members of your community."
Burrill ordered the teen to begin his sentence at a youth jail in Waterville, N.S., because of its rehabilitation programs.
The judge said Billard recently sought help for his problems and has shown a "glimmer of hope" that he can be rehabilitated.
Billard will be eligible for early release after one-third of his sentence. If he is still in custody when he turns 20, he will be sent to a federal prison.
He was also banned from driving for 10 years following his release, will not be able to own a firearm for 10 years and must submit a DNA sample.
Defence lawyer Warren Zimmer had asked for a three-year youth sentence. Crown attorney Gary Holt asked for a six-year adult sentence with credit for time served.
"We ended up with an effective sentence of 5 1/2 years, so that's pretty close," Holt said outside court. "I would be hard pressed to be upset over a question of six months."
Nova Scotia Justice Minister Michael Baker said he was pleased the court believed an adult sentence was appropriate.
"I think that Nova Scotians felt that this was an adult-style crime and that it deserved that kind of treatment," he said.
The case led to public outcry after it was learned the youth was released from custody two days prior to the fatal accident.
A public inquiry begins Monday into the case.
The Nunn commission will examine the youth criminal justice system and the role public officials played in Billard's case.
Joe McEvoy said there are other questions that need to be answered beyond who is criminally responsible.
"The commission's work is vital to provide further answers as to why Theresa died, and to ensure that this never happens again," he said.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, young offenders can be named if they are sentenced as adults, though some court documents - such as psychiatric assessments - are routinely banned from publication for at least 30 days, pending a possible appeal, Crown attorney Holt said.
Holt had said there was an automatic publication ban on Billard's name, but later said no such ban applied.
The teen's lawyer will announce his decision on whether to launch an appeal Jan. 30.
Woman who cut off her newborn son's private parts handed 5-year prison term
Mainichi Daily News, Sakai, Osaka, Japan, November 26, 2006
SAKAI, Osaka -- A woman accused of cutting off her newborn son's private parts in 2004 was ordered Monday to spend five years behind bars.
The Sakai branch of the Osaka District Court convicted Shizue Tamura, 27, a resident of Izumi, Osaka Prefecture, of inflicting bodily injury.
"The way she committed the crime was unprecedented, inhumane and cruel," Presiding Judge Masahiro Hosoi said as he handed down the ruling. Prosecutors had demanded an eight-year prison term. Read More ..
Mom's death dance
SHE PARTIED AS DAUGHTER LEFT TO DIE IN HEAT
Toronto Sun
September 29, 2004
SINGLE MOM Clara DaSilva admitted yesterday she danced the night away while her 2-year-daughter was dying of dehydration in a sweltering apartment. Tiny toddler Adrianna Maria DaSilva was abandoned for at least 33 hours in a 35C room before her mom discovered her dead on Sept. 9, 2002.
Clara DaSilva, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Justice David Watt will sentence her shortly after Jan. 17 following a five-day trial with one contested fact -- the allegation that her purse, with keys and cash, was stolen at a club the day of her child's death. Read More ..
New Brunswick woman ruled responsible in burning of baby's body
ST. STEPHEN, N.B. - A New Brunswick judge says a woman who burned and dismembered her newborn son is criminally responsible for her actions.
Becky Sue Morrow earlier pleaded guilty to offering an indignity to a dead body and disposing of a newborn with the intent of concealing a delivery.
Judge David Walker ruled Friday that the 27-year-old woman may have been suffering from a mental disorder when she delivered the baby but that that was not the case when the baby's body was burned and its remains hidden.
It is not known if the baby was alive at the time of birth.
At a hearing last month, the court heard contrasting reports from the two psychiatrists. One said Ms. Morrow was in a "disassociated" mental state when the crime occurred. The other said she clearly planned her actions and understood the consequences.
Woman convicted of killing 3 kids after custody battle
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, USA, August 26, 2008
HELSINKI, Finland - A court in Finland has convicted a woman of murdering her three young children and has given her a life sentence.
The Espoo District Court says Thai-born Yu-Hsiu Fu was found guilty of strangling her 8-year-old twin daughters and 1-year-old son in her home.
She tried to kill herself afterward.
The verdict on Tuesday says the 41-year-old woman was found to be of sound mind at the time of the murders.
Court papers show the murders were preceded by a bitter custody battle with her Finnish husband who was living separately from her at the time of the murders.
A life sentence in Finland mean convicts usually serve at least 11 years in prison.
Ontario woman convicted of son's starvation death granted full parole
Canadian Press
Wednesday, May. 22, 2002
KINGSTON, Ont. (CP) -- An Ontario woman who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in one of Canada's stiffest penalties for child abuse will be released on full parole after serving less than half her term.
Lorelei Turner, 38, and her husband Steven were convicted of manslaughter in July 1995 for beating and starving their three-year-old son John to death in a case that horrified Canadians who followed the trial.
But on Wednesday, a panel of the National Parole Board in this eastern Ontario city ruled Turner will be released but placed on probation until July 2011.
Until then, she must remain within 25 kilometres of her residence, is not allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 16, and must continue to receive counselling.
"The board would have looked at the risk and obviously found a low risk to reoffend," Carol Sparling of the National Parole Board said Wednesday.
Yeeda Topham killed her baby son but walks free
Australian Associated Press
December 05,
2008
A WOMAN who killed her infant son by jumping with him from the eighth floor of a city apartment block has walked free after being convicted of manslaughter.
Yeeda Topham, 40, of Roleystone near Perth, had pleaded guilty in the West Australian Supreme Court to a charge of unlawfully killing 21-month-old James Topham on November 5 last year. Read More ..
Firefighters Find Baby's Body In Washing Machine
Fire Officials Claim Fire Intentionally Set
NBC4-TV, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
LOS ANGELES, USA -- Murder charges are expected to be filed against a woman whose infant son's body was found in a washing machine after firefighters doused what they say was an intentionally set fire, authorities said Tuesday.
Latunga Starks, 32, was taken into custody last night, according to the Sheriff's Department Web site.
Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Dennis Shirey identified the mother and her nearly 3-month-old son, Michael Kelvin Thompson.
"Murder in the nursery"
Australian mom killed her 4 babies
TORONTO SUN, May 23, 2003
It seemed a tragic coincidence - at first.
Craig and Kathleen Folbigg's first son died in his sleep at 19 days old. Their next child, Patrick, died two years later at nine months.
Still, it was after their fourth baby died before Australian police suspected something was terribly wrong.
In Sydney's New South Wales State Supreme Court this week, Kathleen Folbigg, 35, was found guilty of killing all four of her babies.
The jury's work would have been made much easier if they had been allowed to read Folbigg's entire secret diary. In it, she practically confesses to following in her dad's deadly footsteps.
"Obviously I am my father's daughter," the Australian woman wrote in her diary Oct. 14, 1996, having already killed three of her four children.
"But I think losing my temper and being frustrated and everything has passed. I now just let things happen and go with the flow. An attitude I should of had with all my children, if given the chance, I'll have it with the next one."
Folbigg was pregnant at the time with her fourth child. She would go on to kill her as well.
Mother Shoots father, has his Baby and then kills the Baby and Herself
Investigation into the Death of Zachary Andrew Turner (18 July 2002 to 18 August 2003)
Zachary Turner, a 13 months old baby, died at the hands of his fugitive mother, Dr. Shirley Turner, who killed him and then committed suicide on August 18, 2003.
Turner was facing extradition to the United States to stand trial for the 2001 murder of Dr. Andrew Bagby, Zachary's father.
28-year-old Dr. Andrew Bagby was found shot to death in Keystone State Park, 55 kilometres northeast of Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
Turner fled to Newfoundland, Canada where Zachary was born. She was out on bail against the wishes of U.S. authorities at the time of Zachary's death. Read More ..