NEW THREAD: We are back in the courtroom. Lori just walked in with the sound of her ankle shackles heard across the courtroom. Her defense team will now give their recommendations and then Lori could speak.
Thomas admits there is devastation and destruction surrounding this case. "My heart aches - as does the rest of our team - for the victims. People are hurt. That hurt can sometimes be manifested as hate.
I think Lori Daybell is the most hated woman in America right now and maybe in the world. That hate will never bring closure to the victims."
Thomas talks about knowing what would have happened with JJ and Tylee and Tammy's students. "But we need peace through the hurt and that peace will only come through love and compassion.
I hope each person touched by this case can heal and find some semblance of peace again because this world needs peace."
Thomas says Lori's message is one of love and she's a very misunderstood person. "People who truly know her know she's about love. We didn't always get along and our team has had a lot misunderstandings.
But Lori's overarching theme is about love. She is very different than who she plays on tv. She's smart, insightful, witty."
"She has redeeming values. Kay Woodcock sang her praises today - that Lori was a great mom," Thomas says. "There's a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about how this ultimately came to pass and that's probably not going to change any time soon.
There will be a lot confusion and misunderstanding for a while."
Thomas talking about hope before pivoting to the items the judge keeps in mind while issuing a sentence. "First degree murder is first degree murder and conspiracy carries the same punishment," Thomas says. "How are we going to heal the pain and devastation of this case to hope?"
"We have saved the life of the defendant," Thomas says before saying nobody should take credit or be blamed for that. "We saved her life and that is a win for all humanity."
Thomas explains the options the court has in issuing the sentence. "We would ask the court to sentence Ms. Vallow Daybell to a 20 years fixed term with an interminate term of life."
Thomas says Lori's hope will benefit society. "In our opinion, if you give her fixed life you will essentially throw her away. She has no incentive to rehabilitate. There is no incentive to her or anyone else. The punishment is final and all encompassing.
If you give her hope, we protect society by keeping her behind bars well into her 70s."
Thomas says Lori can help other inmates, change her habits and have hope if he gives her the sentence they recommend. "We can't bring JJ back. We can't bring Tylee back. We can't bring Tammy back.
We can try and bring others up who go to prison to a higher level then they are when they went in. I think that's important. I think that's a testament to JJ and to Tylee and to Tammy. I think that gives them something to carry on in the future."
Thomas: "What do we have to do by giving a woman in her 70s to go before a parole board and ask to be released? There's not a guarantee she will be released but that hope will drive progress in this case.
In summation, we need to heal in order to have peace. Peace comes through love. We ask the court to show mercy and look to the future. We ask the court for a 20 years fixed term plus life indeterminate for all five counts concurrent."
Judge tells Lori can appeal the sentence to the Idaho Supreme Court but it must be done within 42 days.
Lori Vallow Daybell will now be delivered to IDOC. No emotion from Lori. Hearing is over. Will post a full report later.