Sentence in death of newborn called disturbing, unusual

[CHIMO]

Sentence in death of newborn called disturbing, unusual
Last Updated: Thursday, September 28, 2006 | 1:20 PM MT
CBC News

Legal experts and social advocates are criticizing a second-degree murder verdict handed down to a young mother who tossed her newborn into a neighbour's yard.

The verdict — which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, with no chance of parole for 10 years — is merciless and should be appealed, said Chris Levy, associate dean of law at the University of Calgary.

"It's extremely rare. I can't think of any cases off the top of my head where it's happened," he said. "The norm with infanticide sentences is that we try to help the person."

Katrina Effert had just turned 19 when she secretly gave birth in the basement of her parents' home in Wetaskiwin, 70 kilometres south of Edmonton.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/09/28/verdict-mother.html

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