Laura Babcock Murder Trial - *GUILTY*

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Laura's aunt Cathy is now reading her victim impact statement herself.
by Adam Carter 10:29 AM

She says she had the "privilege and honour of being Laura's aunt," and says Laura was like a daughter to her. She's reading from the witness box, in front of Millard and Smich.
by Adam Carter 10:30 AM

"Words cannot express the pain and heartache I have endured since Laura was murdered."
by Adam Carter 10:30 AM

"The people who she thought were her friends have taken her life for the thrill of it," she says, and looks right up at Millard and Smich.
by Adam Carter 10:31 AM

"It haunts me to think about what Laura's last moments were. It haunts me that she suffered," she says.
by Adam Carter 10:32 AM

"I hope that someday, I'll be able to manage the endless sadness that lives within me."
by Adam Carter 10:32 AM

 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews

People are already lined up outside court for #Millard #Smich sentencing. @CHCHNews 6pm full story, tweets here all day.

Got a big hug from Sharlene #Bosma as she came into court. Suddenly teary. #Millard #Smich sentence for #LauraBabcock murder starts 10am

Sharlene #Bosma sister, mother and step dad are also here, as well as #LauraBabcock family. Emotional day for sentencing #Millard and #Smich for 2nd first degree murder convictions @CHCHNews

Laura #Babcock’s mom just hugged some of the jurors who were waiting in line. Then the rest of Tim #Bosma’s family showed up with open arms. #Millard #Smich sentencing soon

Families of #Millard #Smich victims now going into court. #LauraBabcock #TimBosma

No power source here so I will likely revert to tweeting by phone, #Millard and #Smich are as far apart as possible in prisoner box

Both convicted twice over for first degree murder, #Millard and #Smich sit erect & stare straight ahead as family of their two victims fill court benches behind them. Millard has a new beard, still the rat's tail, and glasses. Smich looks the same.

Justice Code is here. "Nice to see you again," he tells the court. His voice sounds terrible. Says he's suffering the last of a cold. #LauraBabcock

Code says he got a "curious" letter after the verdict, which he shared with the lawyers, he says. "You'll deal with it, whatever you think best." Rest of court doesn't know what this letter is about. A letter from the member of the public. Now a lettered exhibit. #LauraBabcock

Crown says Shawn Lerner has a victim impact statement, but it was not a proper impact statement, so it's been withdrawn. "Clearly inappropriate," Code remarks. #LauraBabcock #Millard #Smich #sentencing

Ravin Pillay is here for #Millard today, although he represented himself at trial. Pillay was one of his lawyers at the #Bosma trial. #LauraBabcock
 
I can't remember if it was reported but does anyone know if it was mentioned after the trial how many of the jurors did not know the history of these two murderers?
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
20m20 minutes ago

Tom Dungey says his #Smich co-counsel Jennifer Trehearne will not be here because she's also out with the flu. #LauraBabcock

We are expecting to hear some victim impact statements today. Judge has just gone through 11 other records for the sentencing hearing, including letters from Millhaven prison. #LauraBabcock

Crown Jill Cameron will read the victim impact statement provided by Laura #Babcock's parents, Linda & Clayton, and her brother.

Photo of Laura #Babcock on court screens. Today would have been her 29th birthday. She loved pink and sparkles. They should be celebrating, instead they "stand in court watching the men who murdered our daughter."

So many milestones will not be reached, Laura #Babcock's mother and brother Brent wrote. "There's nothing more horrific that can happen to a child... to have her murdered in such a cold, callous way." But their hatred of Millard and Smich is less than their sadness

Trophy pictures of their lovely daughter's remains burning haunt the family. They can't sleep. "Finding joy requires planning and effort." They had tried so hard to be hopeful for so many years. #LauraBabcock

If Tim #Bosma had not been cruelly murdered, they would probably still be wondering what happened to Laura, Linda #Babcock wrote.

Tears and closed eyes among the families of the victims. Your families must be so ashamed that one of them is so deranged, the #Babcock family wrote to #Millard and #Smich. Cameron's voice is breaking as she finishes.

Cathy #Babcock, Laura's aunt, is now reading a statement. Laura was like the daughter she never had, shopping, wonderland, everything she wanted on the Christmas list. Words cannot explain her heartache, she says.

Her brother and sister in law were always happy and laughing. That has changed. "The loss of Laura is beyond words... because people she thought were her friends took her life for the thrill of it." She looks at Laura #Babcock's photo every day.

She's haunted by Laura's last moment, and by a rap song "that was written celebrating her death," Cathy #Babcock says.

Laura #Babcock's grandmother says there will always be an empty seat at the table for Laura. She feels helpless, sad, and angry.

Clayton #Babcock is weeping. Others also gripping kleenex.

Not sure of the next statement author, who wrote about the finality of murder "Laura was only 23 years old." #Babcock
 
Now we're hearing a victim impact statement from Babcock's grandmother, who says it's very difficult for her to now say she has "three grandchildren instead of four."
by Adam Carter 10:33 AM

While all this is happening, a photo of Babcock is being displayed on a large TV screen. Cameron now says it's the Crown's position that Millard and Smich should be sentenced consecutively.
by Adam Carter 10:35 AM

"What was the point of all this? The answer to that is justice. Laura deserves justice ... justice is not just a finding of guilt, justice is a sentence," Cameron says. She says that means a finding of guilt on two separate murders.
by Adam Carter 10:36 AM

A photo of Tim Bosma is now being shown in the courtroom. Cameron is referring to the evidence of the Bosma trial. She says the judge needs to have an understanding of the prior murder conviction.
by Adam Carter 10:37 AM

"You have to appreciate the facts of both cases," Cameron says. "The issue when determining a consecutive or concurrent sentence is whether or not these two separate events were effectively part of one transaction or not."
by Adam Carter 10:39 AM

Cameron is now talking about how Bosma was shot in his truck, and how his body was burned in an animal incinerator.
by Adam Carter 10:39 AM

Sharlene Bosma is dabbing her eyes with a tissue as the details about what happened to her husband are being recounted.
by Adam Carter 10:40 AM

 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
6m6 minutes ago

It's the crown's position that Smich and Millard should serve a consecutive sentence without parole for 25 years. "Why go through this prosecution if they were already serving a life sentence? The answer is justice. Laura deserves justice," Cameron tells court.

Bosma and Babcock did not know each other. Their families only just met at sentencing, Cameron says. Tim #Bosma's photo now on court screens. Crown reviewing some of the evidence from that conviction.

Defense does not want judge to consider the #Bosma verdict in the #Babcock sentence. "That makes no sense," Cameron says.

Tim #Bosma met #Millard and #Smich the day he took them for a test drive of his truck. He never came back. He was killed and burned in an animal incinerator that night. Those facts were not in contention, crown says. Foricible confinement as a route to murder was not an option

Millard and Smich planned #Bosma's murder, that is a fact the crown says is germane to sentencing in #LauraBabcock murder trial. Judge wants to see #Bosma judge (Goodman) charge to the jury.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
5m5 minutes ago

Crown now recapping some of the testimony #Smich gave at #Bosma trial, that he followed behind during the test drive. His testimony was clearly not believed by the jury "there was no other way to get to first degree murder," Cameron says. #LauraBabcock

The judge doesn't need to be told that #Bosma's widow & young daughter were hurt by his murder. His parents and extended family are all here. "This was about a truck... he didn't even need," Crown says, after the plethora of cars and trucks #Millard paraded out during this trial

That case had nothing to do with the plot against Laura #Babcock, Cameron says. Unlike other cases that got concurrent sentences, #Babcock and #Bosma murders were 10 months apart & both for some "diabolical adrenaline rush" #Millard and #Smich wanted to feel.
 
Code is now asking Cameron about how Justice Goodman charged the jury on if there was a principal shooter or not, in the last trial.
by Adam Carter 10:44 AM

Cameron says the Bosma case "struck fear into the hearts of our community."
by Adam Carter 10:45 AM

Cameron says both Bosma and Babcock were victims of Millard and Smich's "desire to kill -- some senseless and diabolical adrenaline rush."
by Adam Carter 10:48 AM

Cameron says both men had a "thrill kill need."
by Adam Carter 10:50 AM

Cameron is now moving to text messages to prove her point. The first text is from Feb. 2012, Millard says: "I'm down to murk people if there's a big enough payoff." Cameron says that shows they are willing to murder people. Millard also talks about a "steady escalation." Smich also responds "I want two of every animal."
by Adam Carter 10:53 AM

Now seeing a rap that Smich sent to Millard. "Don't move an inch, if you do, you die," part of it reads. Millard responds "It tells of what's on your mind these days. Dark days coming to make a payday."
by Adam Carter 10:54 AM

 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
5m5 minutes ago
Millard wanted to get rid of #Babcock because she annoyed him, he wanted to get rid of #Bosma for his truck... but the murders are similar in that they were both "for the thrill," Cameron says.

Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
3m3 minutes ago
Crown now going over some text messages that show #Millard and #Smich planning general murder. For a big enough payout.

Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
2m2 minutes ago
When Christina Noudga was upset about #Babcock's interference in her relationship with #Millard, #Smich made a rap song about murder. "For whatever meaningless reason, Smich is in on the plan," Cameron says.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
3m3 minutes ago

In May 2012 #Smich texts #Millard "it's nice to hold," "someday I'll ask you to cut someone with it," Millard told him. Smich looks forward to it. "This criminal activity escalated to murder," Cameron says Smich was a willing participant. "He suggested missions, and participated"

"He was not just #Millard's puppet.... he did not need Millard, he liked him. He loved him," Cameron says of #Smich, who had a nice house in Oakville and could have gotten a job but instead chose a murderous lifestyle.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
1m1 minute ago

Crown has evidence that most similar cases see consecutive, not concurrent sentences. She is still making her argument, now using case law. #LauraBabcock
 
Now texts from May 7, 2012. "The knife is sick," Smich says to Millard. Millard says "Glad you like it. Someday I'll ask you to cut someone with it." Smich says "I'd enjoy that." Cameron says this shows Smich is not a dupe.
by Adam Carter 10:57 AM

"Mr. Smich was a willing participant all the way along," Cameron says.
by Adam Carter 10:57 AM

Cameron says Smich cared about Millard. "It was clear that he never gave a second thought to what they were doing."
by Adam Carter 10:59 AM

Cameron is now turning to case law, and previous cases on this issue.
by Adam Carter 10:59 AM

She'll use this case law as an example of consecutive sentencing. In nine of 13 cases she has, consecutive sentences were imposed. Of the four where consecutive sentences were not imposed, three were guilty pleas.
by Adam Carter 11:00 AM

Cameron says in every previous case where there was a first-degree murder conviction, consecutive sentences were given.
by Adam Carter 11:02 AM

 
Jasper52 said:
Now texts from May 7, 2012. "The knife is sick," Smich says to Millard. Millard says "Glad you like it. Someday I'll ask you to cut someone with it." Smich says "I'd enjoy that." Cameron says this shows Smich is not a dupe.
by Adam Carter 10:57 AM

"Mr. Smich was a willing participant all the way along," Cameron says.
by Adam Carter 10:57 AM

Cameron says Smich cared about Millard. "It was clear that he never gave a second thought to what they were doing."
by Adam Carter 10:59 AM

Cameron is now turning to case law, and previous cases on this issue.
by Adam Carter 10:59 AM

She'll use this case law as an example of consecutive sentencing. In nine of 13 cases she has, consecutive sentences were imposed. Of the four where consecutive sentences were not imposed, three were guilty pleas.
by Adam Carter 11:00 AM

Cameron says in every previous case where there was a first-degree murder conviction, consecutive sentences were given.
by Adam Carter 11:02 AM
Click to expand...

If any good thing can come from these two forcing a trial instead of pleading guilty, let it be that it ends with consecutive sentences.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
2m2 minutes ago

Laura #Babcock was extremely vulnerable to #Millard and #Smich, in love with Millard. "I shudder to think of her at Kipling station, happily waiting for him to pick her up." No idea she was about to be murdered, crown says #Bosma similar. "They were both ambushed."
 
chaines said:
That's crazy. His statement isn't going to impact the jury. He should be allowed to say whatever he wants about these *******s. And likely an opinion on the police investigation too.
Click to expand...
There's no jury to even influence. The judge makes the decision on sentencing. Victims should be able to express what they need to. Shawn is a class act, I doubt it was even that bad.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
4m4 minutes ago

This was not a murderous rampage, this was two separately planned murders. Justice for Laura #Babcock demands a consecutive sentence, otherwise why bother with her trial, crown says.
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
1h1 hour ago
Code says he got a "curious" letter after the verdict, which he shared with the lawyers, he says. "You'll deal with it, whatever you think best." Rest of court doesn't know what this letter is about. A letter from the member of the public. Now a lettered exhibit. #LauraBabcock
Click to expand...

I wonder if we'll ever find out the contents of this letter are? :waitasec:
 
Lisa Hepfner@HefCHCHNews
2m2 minutes ago

Cameron asks the judge to disregard defence argument that being imprisoned until their 70s is too harsh for #Millard and #Smich and would crush their hope. The bigger concern is two losses of lives, #Babcock and #Bosma, and that each loss be considered by the justice system.
 
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