Picking up LH tweets until I get called away at work.
Lisa Hepfner‏ @HefCHCHNews
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Sharlene
#Bosma has arrived at T.O. court for
#Millard #Smich sentence decision in
#Babcock murder. Consecutive or concurrent sentences? 2:30pm start for judge decision. Media are gathering.
@CHCHNews 6pm full story.
#Bosma and
#Babcock families embraced outside court before sentencing. We are in the courtroom now, largest one in courthouse.
#Millard and
#Smich sit in prisoner box, both heavily bearded, backs ramrod straight.
Justice Code is now in the room. He'll read his 27.5 page judgement over the next hour or so.
@CHCHNews
"Overview." The accused,
#Millard and
#Smich, were convicted of the Murder of Laura
#Babcock on Dec. 16. Normally they would be sentenced immediately after to life in prison no chance of parole for 25 years. "However this is not a normal case."
The accused had already been sentenced for the murder of Tim
#Bosma, and so the
#Babcock conviction was their second, for first degree murder. Historically, life sentences have been served concurrently, because life is life and you only have one life.
When parole ineligibilities were changed in 1976, murders continued to be served concurrently. In 2011 federal government changes allowed for life sentences to be served consecutively. Before the offences by
#Millard and
#Smich were committed.
#Babcock #Bosma
The jury recommendation provision says that when a jury finds an accused guilty when the accused has already been found guilty in a prior trial, the jury can recommend consecutive or concurrent parole eligibilities. The
#Babcock jury was given this option
All 12 jurors said
#Millard should serve the maximum consecutive... five jurors said
#Smich should serve consecutive and seven had no opinion on Smich. Crown wants consecutive and defence wants concurrent sentences.
Code: "facts relating to the offence." Complex evidence heard over six weeks. Judge won't repeat the evidence.
#LauraBabcock.
The jury found that
#LauraBabcock is dead, and died as the result of an unlawful act, although those points were in contention before trial, judge says.
Both accused participated in the act that caused
#LauraBabcock's death. Both had the requisite states of mind for murder.
#Millard planned and deliberated on murdering Babcock, and
#Smich helped him carry out the murder, judge says these points were satisfied by the jury.
All MOO.