South Surrey mother Lisa Batstone 鈥� found guilty in March of second-degree murder in her daughter Teagan鈥檚 December 2014 death 鈥� should have to wait 16 to 18 years before she can apply for parole, Crown counsel submitted Wednesday.
The facts, prosecutor Christopher McPherson argued, 鈥渓ie squarely within the highest range of parole ineligibility.鈥�
Defence counsel agreed the offence was 鈥渙ne of the worst crimes,鈥� but submitted an ineligibility term of 10 years was appropriate, noting 鈥渦nless Miss Batstone is able to establish that she is fit for release, she will remain in jail for the rest of her life.鈥�
Crown says South Surrey mother who killed daughter should spend 16-18 years in jail before being eligible to apply for parole.
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The conviction comes with an automatic life sentence. Lawyers are making submissions today on just how long Batstone 鈥� who smothered Teagan with a plastic bag 鈥� should remain ineligible for parole, and Justice Catherine Murray is hearing victim-impact statements, including from Teagan鈥檚 dad, Gabe Batstone.
Gabe Batstone told Murray he is haunted every day by all the little things he can no longer share with his daughter: trips to the grocery store and the park, comforting her.
鈥淚 miss everything, and that never goes away,鈥� he said.
He said he is angered at the impact her murder has had on his two young sons, describing the boys鈥� sadness, confusion, survivor鈥檚 guilt and more.
Gabe Batstone also expressed concern with the court process.
鈥淥ften not seen and difficult to prepare for is the slowness of this process,鈥� he told the court. 鈥淔our years later, just days before Father鈥檚 Day, I sit reliving the worst day of my life鈥︹��
In finding Batstone guilty in March, Murray 鈥� noting the only issue for her to rule on was whether Batstone 鈥渉ad the requisite intent for second-degree murder鈥� 鈥� found 鈥渢he killing was deliberate.鈥�
鈥淭he accused鈥檚 actions were purposeful and goal-driven,鈥� Murray said.
Batstone was charged after eight-year-old Teagan鈥檚 body was found in the trunk of a car in a cul-de-sac off Crescent Road on Dec. 10, 2014.
During trial, prosecutors pointed to the fact that Batstone never called 911, and that she left notes that read 鈥淚鈥檓 so sorry,鈥� as well as a four-page letter with phrases that included, 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine leaving here and leaving her to him,鈥� as among evidence that made it clear Batstone had intended to kill Teagan.
Defence counsel had argued it was 鈥渋mpossible to know鈥� what truly was in Batstone鈥檚 mind鈥� in the moments before she smothered her daughter.
In her reasons for judgment, Murray noted that Batstone 鈥渄id nothing to try to save鈥� Teagan.
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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