13°c Partly cloudy
10°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Runaway killer deserves fourth chance: judge
The 16-year-old girl -- who was 12 when she participated in the October 2006 killing of Audrey Cooper -- was released from jail Thursday afternoon despite recently running away from her court-ordered treatment centre.
Queen's Bench Chief Justice Marc Monnin rejected the Crown's bid to have the girl kept behind bars until she turns 18 but warned this will be her final chance. He noted her probation officer believes she has "learned her lesson."
The teen was sentenced last year to the maximum three-year sentence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for her role in Cooper's death. Queen's Bench Justice Deborah McCawley assigned her seven and a half months of pre-trial custody as credit, then filled out the rest of the term with 28 and a half months of community supervision, which takes the girl to her 18th birthday.
She was ordered to live at a local group home under 24-hour supervision until she is no longer a youth. She was warned that any breaches mean the rest of her sentence could be converted to jail time.
The girl fled the facility on three different occasions, the final time happening in October when she was caught hiding in a closet at her family's home, court was told. She has spent the past four months in custody.
Defence lawyer Darren Sawchuk told court the group home is supporting her release from jail and has a bed available for her. They plan to tighten supervision of his client and limit her contact with her family, who raised her in a climate of abuse and neglect which included being taught how to snort cocaine by her mother.
Cooper, 34, was a random target. She was beaten until she was unrecognizable, stripped and then urinated on by a group of laughing teens who tossed loose change on her body as they fled.
"That's all she's worth," one of them later told police.
Police arrested four suspects -- the 12-year-old girl, two 14-year-old girls and a 15-year-old boy. Three of the suspects remain before the courts.
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 26, 2010 A9
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- WWE's Jericho breaks code in Brazil
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Blue boxes to garden boxes?
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Teachers split on issue of human sexuality
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- A SHED is not enough
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Female cyclist dies on Higgins after falling into semi's path
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- At 100, she's still winning friends and winning at bridge
- His life made our world a better place
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Teachers split on issue of human sexuality
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- Cummings steps out of reunion for sick mom
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- Weeding out the chemicals
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.