Woman claims she was forced to break the law

From singer to bank robber; woman claims she was forced to break the law

- She aspired to become a singing star in her home country of Belize, releasing her first CD at the age of 19 with the promise of more to come.

- "I love you," a tearful Emelda Marie Cuddy said to more than 30 supporters who filled a provincial court Wednesday for her emotionally charged sentencing hearing. Cuddy, 26, blew a kiss to everyone as she was led away in handcuffs to begin serving a four-and-a-half year prison term.

- Cuddy was arrested in December 2007 while trying to cross the U.S. border in Pembina while on her way to see a Green Bay Packers football game. A search revealed an outstanding warrant for her arrest based on an ongoing police investigation.

- She admits she was the woman behind the mask who held up six credit unions in Winnipeg between July and December 2007. Although she was never seen to have a weapon, Cuddy would threaten bank staff with violence -- in one case claiming she would return to kill a pregnant teller if her demands weren't complied with, court was told.

- Received more than $35,000 in cash during the robberies. There were no physical injuries.

- Once-promising life took a troubling turn when she began hanging out at several Winnipeg bars and "got caught up with the wrong crowd." He told court she met several people who had ties to the gang and criminal underworld and may have "pressured" Cuddy into committing crimes.

- In her final robbery, bank staff observed Cuddy crying as she stood in line, waiting to be called to the counter where she would produce a threatening note demanding cash.

- "I don't want to do this," she sobbed to her victim.

- Experimenting with drugs but was not committing crimes to feed an addiction

- She has now been ordered to repay all of the stolen money. No explanation was given to court about where it ended up.

- Cuddy is a Canadian citizen who has been in the country for many years and previously studied business administration at Brandon University.

- She also used to work in a bank as a teller, which gave her inside knowledge she applied when planning her robberies

- Cuddy went by the name of Marie Reimer when she released her first CD, called Maria, in 2003.

- Cuddy predicted big things for her career in a Belize TV interview. 

- She chose the name Maria because it is a name that could go both ways, whether she decided to make Spanish music or English.

- "You can still be a productive, contributing member of society," Finlayson said. "But today, you must pay for the crimes you committed."

I believe that this is one of those cases where the defendant did not rob the banks to support a drug addiction or because she wanted to harm anybody. She had a different type of intent than most criminals and that should be considered. She had no previous record, expressed extreme and sincere remorse, was under financial pressures and became associated with the "wrong people" who did drugs. This woman promised to never re-offend and I think that she realizes the harm she has caused to the victims of the robberies and I believe her. 

I don't agree with this woman's sentence of 4 and a half years. I feel that prison should be reserved for those people are dangerous and violent and who have a high to moderate risk of re-offending. I dont believe that this woman fits any of these criteria. She committed the bank robberies for different reasons than most other criminals would and I dont believe that prison will help her, but could possibly harm her. She will have to be sent to Edmonton Women's Prison where she is far from her family and friends and is immersed in pro-criminal attitudes, values and behaviours of the women in prison.

I believe that this woman should have received a 2 year conditional sentence combined with a fine with conditions of abstaining from drugs/alcohol, not going to banks, etc. I believe she can be rehabilitated and that serving her time in the community would help her to become a better person and to truly take responsibility for her actions. She made a mistake by becoming involved with the wrong crowd and had and still has a big future and dreams that she should be allowed to pursue. 

This sentence is NOT appropriate, in my opinon and is far too harsh for this woman.   

This is the comment I posted on the Winnipeg Free Press: I completely disagree with this sentence.

This woman did not possess the intent that most criminals do, when they rob a bank. She didn't want to do it, but was under financial pressures and was influenced by the "wrong group of people."

She has no previous record, expressed sincere and extreme remorse and just made a mistake by becoming associated and involved with the "wrong group of people" who did drugs and who may have pressured her into committing these crimes.

I believe she truly realizes the harm she has caused these victims.

I feel that prison should be reserved for those people are dangerous and violent and who have a high to moderate risk of re-offending. I don't believe that this woman fits any of these criteria. I think prison could harm her rather than help her.

I think she should have gotten a conditional sentence because I support rehabilitation and believe that this woman just made a mistake and will not re-offend.