Lisa Batstone will have to wait 15 years to apply for release from custody.

The South Surrey mother learned the term Tuesday morning, during proceedings in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.

In imposing the ineligibility, Justice Catherine Murray noted Batstone鈥檚 love for her daughter 鈥渋s not in doubt.鈥�

However, 鈥渋n my view, loving someone does not render murdering them less serious.鈥�

鈥淭hat breach of trust could not be more abhorrent.鈥�

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Batstone was found guilty in March of second-degree murder 鈥� a finding that comes with an automatic life sentence, with no chance of parole for at least 10 years 鈥� in connection with the December 2014 death of her daughter, Teagan.

She had been arrested after the eight-year-old鈥檚 body was found in the back of a car in a cul-de-sac off Crescent Road.

During trial, the court heard how Batstone had smothered Teagan with a plastic bag while she slept.

Defence counsel had argued that the mother鈥檚 level of intoxication at the time 鈥� along with borderline personality traits, significant levels of depression and a 鈥渃loud of stressors鈥� 鈥� may have limited her ability to gauge the consequences of the act.

In court Tuesday, Murray said she is 鈥渘ot convinced鈥� that Batstone鈥檚 mental health was the reason for the murder.

Rather, 鈥淭eagan was the pawn in her mother鈥檚 revenge鈥� against Teagan鈥檚 father, Gabe Batstone, for the collapse of their marriage.

鈥淭he murder of Teagan was intended to hurt one person 鈥� Gabe,鈥� Murray said.

Murray described Batstone鈥檚 actions as 鈥渟ystematic, focused, purposeful and goal-directed.鈥�

鈥淭he killing was intentional. It involved choices and decisions. It involved effort,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he never wavered from that goal, not even during the four to five minutes when she held the bag over Teagan鈥檚 mouth and nose.鈥�

During a hearing in June, Crown Christopher McPherson had asked the judge to impose a 16- 18-year ineligibility term; defence Rebecca McConchie argued for 10 years.

In imposing the 15-year term, Murray said the court needed to send a 鈥渕essage that children are not to be used as pawns.鈥�

Outside court, McPherson said he was satisfied with the outcome. The 15 years, as well as Murray鈥檚 statements prior to imposing it, is 鈥渁 pretty strong message,鈥� he said.

Members of White Rock Baptist church and Teagan鈥檚 family were in court for the ruling.

More to come鈥�