Sitting in a courtroom after over two hours of heart wrenching, gruesome and depressing details the Judge uttered the words many of us had been waiting for since December of 2014 – “Guilty of 2nd Degree Murder”. Those words came after sitting on the edge of our seats listening to the specific details of Teagan’s last few days alive and then the summary of the prosecution and defense cases. After a break the Judge outlined in detail her analysis and the related case law to support her conclusion. It was emotional, tiring and enraging in equal doses! Of course there were supporters of the murderer sitting only meters away and the media just behind us.
Once sentencing is complete we may share some of the details many of which has been published by the media. It is fair to say that the details leave no doubt about the evil intent and actions that stole a beautiful child from this world. How you can kill an 8 year girl in cold blood is beyond me and Teagan deserved so much more.
Although this was a significant moment in the horrifying ordeal it’s far from the end of the process. The date to set the sentencing date is still weeks away and the sentencing itself is still months away. There is also the reality that in Canada a life sentence is not really “life”. The good news is Lisa Batstone will forever be a convicted murderer but the reality is she could still walk free in as soon as 6 years (after reducing time served). The minimum parole eligibility is 10 years and the maximum is 25 years. In all likelihood it will lie somewhere in between at say 15 years.
I would be remiss not to thank the Prosecution for their dedication to the task and the Judge for her thorough and considered verdict. Another chapter is this tragic saga is complete but if far from over and none of it will bring our sweet Teagan home.
Teagan's Voice 