Corolla
07-17-2008, 04:42 PM
N.L woman gets 2 years house arrest in beating death
The third and final person convicted in the killing of Richard Brace, the 29-year-old man beaten to death in Carbonear, N.L., in 2005, was sentenced in Supreme Court in St. John's on Thursday.
Ashley Wheadon, 22, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced Thursday morning to two years house arrest and three years probation for her role in inciting the attack on Brace.
Justice Lois Hoegg handed down the sentence, which had been recommended by both the Crown and defence.
'Only a spiteful, cold-hearted person with no regard for another human life, could do something like this.'—Carolyn Sooley, Richard Brace's mother
Wheadon was Brace's girlfriend in 2005, when in an alcohol- and drug-induced stupor, she accused him of being unfaithful and stealing from her.
The court heard how she encouraged two other people to beat Brace, who later died in hospital.
The court had already convicted and sentenced the two other people in Brace's death.
David Ryan, 48, was convicted of second-degree murder in July 2005 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Another male, who cannot be named because he was a minor at the time, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years.
Victim's mother addresses Wheadon
Tears rolled down Wheadon's face as she addressed the court Wednesday at her sentencing hearing.
"I am not a monster," she said. "I wish I could go back in time and change things, but I can't. I wish I could help them with their pain, the pain I caused," she said of Brace's family.
Brace's mother, Carolyn Sooley, was also crying during the hearing.
"What I saw when I walked into that hospital room no parent should ever have to witness," she said. "To see your precious child swollen beyond recognition. His life slowly [was] draining from him despite our prayers."
She then addressed Wheadon directly: "I feel you, Ashley, are just as responsible for my son's death as the one who throws the punches. I believe that only a spiteful, cold-hearted person with no regard for another human life could do something like this."
Court was told Wheadon had been beaten and abused as a child, locked in her bedroom and deprived of food. She was also sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend.
Considering Wheadon's past, the Crown and defence had recommended the two-year conditional sentence, meaning she will serve house arrest and receive three years probation.
During the two-year house arrest, Wheadon must abide by strict court conditions.
Those conditions include remaining in the house at all times except for medical and dental appointments and to attend work or school.
Wheadon will be allowed to leave the house from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. daily for exercise, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays for shopping.
Justice Hoegg also ordered Wheadon to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while under house arrest.
Oh come on... 2 years house arrest with time out for shopping and exercise? Don't be too harsh there! Sometimes I'm ashamed to admit I live in this city...
Source (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/17/wheadon-sentece.html)
The third and final person convicted in the killing of Richard Brace, the 29-year-old man beaten to death in Carbonear, N.L., in 2005, was sentenced in Supreme Court in St. John's on Thursday.
Ashley Wheadon, 22, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced Thursday morning to two years house arrest and three years probation for her role in inciting the attack on Brace.
Justice Lois Hoegg handed down the sentence, which had been recommended by both the Crown and defence.
'Only a spiteful, cold-hearted person with no regard for another human life, could do something like this.'—Carolyn Sooley, Richard Brace's mother
Wheadon was Brace's girlfriend in 2005, when in an alcohol- and drug-induced stupor, she accused him of being unfaithful and stealing from her.
The court heard how she encouraged two other people to beat Brace, who later died in hospital.
The court had already convicted and sentenced the two other people in Brace's death.
David Ryan, 48, was convicted of second-degree murder in July 2005 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Another male, who cannot be named because he was a minor at the time, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years.
Victim's mother addresses Wheadon
Tears rolled down Wheadon's face as she addressed the court Wednesday at her sentencing hearing.
"I am not a monster," she said. "I wish I could go back in time and change things, but I can't. I wish I could help them with their pain, the pain I caused," she said of Brace's family.
Brace's mother, Carolyn Sooley, was also crying during the hearing.
"What I saw when I walked into that hospital room no parent should ever have to witness," she said. "To see your precious child swollen beyond recognition. His life slowly [was] draining from him despite our prayers."
She then addressed Wheadon directly: "I feel you, Ashley, are just as responsible for my son's death as the one who throws the punches. I believe that only a spiteful, cold-hearted person with no regard for another human life could do something like this."
Court was told Wheadon had been beaten and abused as a child, locked in her bedroom and deprived of food. She was also sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend.
Considering Wheadon's past, the Crown and defence had recommended the two-year conditional sentence, meaning she will serve house arrest and receive three years probation.
During the two-year house arrest, Wheadon must abide by strict court conditions.
Those conditions include remaining in the house at all times except for medical and dental appointments and to attend work or school.
Wheadon will be allowed to leave the house from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. daily for exercise, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays for shopping.
Justice Hoegg also ordered Wheadon to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while under house arrest.
Oh come on... 2 years house arrest with time out for shopping and exercise? Don't be too harsh there! Sometimes I'm ashamed to admit I live in this city...
Source (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/17/wheadon-sentece.html)