WINNIPEG - A Manitoba judge has imposed the maximum youth sentence against two teen girls who admit to participating in the random killing of a Winnipeg woman.
The pair, who were 14 at the time of the October 2006 attack against Audrey Cooper, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for justice officials agreeing not to seek an adult penalty.
Queen’s Bench Justice Holly Beard said Tuesday both would be given four years of custody and three years of community supervision, which is the longest sentence allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
However, the young killers will be released from jail in August based on credit given for their time already spent in custody. Both were denied bail and have been behind bars for the past 43 months.
Defence lawyers say both girls, now 17, have made significant positive changes in their lives since their arrests. Both have been deemed medium risks to re-offend.
Beard wants lawyers to return to court later this summer to discuss specific terms and conditions of the community supervision she is going to impose. Any breaches during that period could result in the community time being converted to real jail.
Cooper, 34, was randomly attacked while walking near her downtown home. She suffered extensive injuries throughout her body.
A 12-year-old girl involved in the attack has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was given the maximum sentence of three years custody and supervision.
A male suspect who was 15 at the time of the attack remains before the courts.
Teen killers get jail time, community supervision
A Manitoba judge has imposed the maximum youth sentence on two teen girls who admit to participating in the random killing of a Winnipeg woman.
The pair, who were 14 at the time of the October 2006 attack against Audrey Cooper, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for justice officials agreeing not to seek an adult penalty.
Queen's Bench Justice Holly Beard said Tuesday both would be given four years of custody and three years of community supervision, which is the longest sentence allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
However, the young killers will be released from jail in August based on credit given for their time already spent in custody. Both were previously denied bail and have been behind bars for the past 43 months.
Defence lawyers say both girls, now 17, have made significant positive changes in their lives since their arrests. Both have been deemed medium risks to re-offend. Beard wants lawyers to return to court later this summer to discuss specific terms and conditions of the community supervision she is going to impose.
Cooper, 34, was randomly attacked while walking near her downtown home. She suffered extensive injuries throughout her body. A 12-year-old girl involved in the attack has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was given the maximum sentence of three years custody and supervision. A boy who was 15 at the time remains before the courts.
Teens receive maximum sentence for brutal killing
Two teens arrested in the random killing of Spence Street resident Audrey Cooper have received the maximum youth sentence of seven years custody and community supervision.
The now 18-year-old woman and 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty last February to second-degree murder.
The two accused were among four youths arrested following Cooper's brutal killing outside her home in October 2006.
Justice Holly Beard has ordered the two accused to serve four years of the sentence under community supervision, even though they have already served 3 1/2 years in pre-trial custody.
Beard said the seriousness of the crime demands the pair be supervised for as long as possible. The pair will remain in custody until late August, pending the submission of acceptable release plans, at which time they will be credited three years for time served.
Beard rejected a release plan for one of the girls after learning, among other things, that the chief of the Manitoba reserve where she was to live did not approve her return.
A now 16-year-old girl pleaded guilty last year to manslaughter and received the maximum youth sentence of three years custody and community supervision, with a requirement she live in a specialized group home until she is 18.
A now 18-year-old male co-accused is set to stand trial next month.
Teen killers get jail time, community supervision
A Manitoba judge has imposed the maximum youth sentence on two teen girls who admit to participating in the random killing of a Winnipeg woman.
The pair, who were 14 at the time of the October 2006 attack against Audrey Cooper, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for justice officials agreeing not to seek an adult penalty.
Queen's Bench Justice Holly Beard said Tuesday both would be given four years of custody and three years of community supervision, which is the longest sentence allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
However, the young killers will be released from jail in August based on credit given for their time already spent in custody. Both were previously denied bail and have been behind bars for the past 43 months.
Defence lawyers say both girls, now 17, have made significant positive changes in their lives since their arrests. Both have been deemed medium risks to re-offend. Beard wants lawyers to return to court later this summer to discuss specific terms and conditions of the community supervision she is going to impose.
Cooper, 34, was randomly attacked while walking near her downtown home. She suffered extensive injuries throughout her body. A 12-year-old girl involved in the attack has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was given the maximum sentence of three years custody and supervision. A boy who was 15 at the time remains before the courts.
Teens receive maximum sentence for brutal killing
Two teens arrested in the random killing of Spence Street resident Audrey Cooper have received the maximum youth sentence of seven years custody and community supervision.
The now 18-year-old woman and 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty last February to second-degree murder.
The two accused were among four youths arrested following Cooper's brutal killing outside her home in October 2006.
Justice Holly Beard has ordered the two accused to serve four years of the sentence under community supervision, even though they have already served 3 1/2 years in pre-trial custody.
Beard said the seriousness of the crime demands the pair be supervised for as long as possible. The pair will remain in custody until late August, pending the submission of acceptable release plans, at which time they will be credited three years for time served.
Beard rejected a release plan for one of the girls after learning, among other things, that the chief of the Manitoba reserve where she was to live did not approve her return.
A now 16-year-old girl pleaded guilty last year to manslaughter and received the maximum youth sentence of three years custody and community supervision, with a requirement she live in a specialized group home until she is 18.
A now 18-year-old male co-accused is set to stand trial next month.
I suppose that if this sentence was in exchange for an adult penalty, that's definitely positive, as adult penalties for youth are largely ineffective and damaging to their chances at rehabilitation. For their community supervision, the teens should have to attend counseling to uncover the causes of their criminal behaviour.
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