B.C. mother who smothered daughter must wait 15 years before applying for parole

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – A British Columbia mother found guilty of the second-degree murder of her eight-year-old daughter has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for 15 years.

Justice Catherine Murray says Lisa Batstone planned to smother her daughter Teagan before killing herself on Dec. 10, 2014, but she could not follow through with the suicide.

She says Batstone did not want the girl to be with her father, Gabe Batstone, after her suicide and therefore killing her daughter was a selfish act intended to hurt her ex-husband.

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Although Lisa Batstone was likely suffering from depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder at the time, Murray says, her mental issues did not significantly mitigate her moral culpability.

The judge added Batstone left notes in her home blaming her ex-husband for the murder and she told several lies to psychiatrists because she hoped to be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.

Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence, but the Crown requested 16 to 18 years without eligibility for parole, while the defence asked for 10.

“That was for revenge,” father says 

Gabe Batstone says no amount of time will bring back his daughter, but he believes the judge has been as fair as she could be in sentencing his ex-wife.

“She truly did understand she purposely and meaningfully and with intent killed Teagan,” he says. “That was for revenge. The judge or the prosecution, they performed within the system we live in and we accept that.”

During the trial, Gabe Batsone heard his ex-wife left notes blaming him for their daughter’s death.

“None of that was shocking or startling. It was just nice that when someone was presented with all of the facts and the data, Judge Murray came to the same conclusion that I’ve had for, you know, well over a decade,” he says. “It’s not near what was stolen, in the sense that Teagan lost 70 years of her life, so 15 seems pale in comparison. At least it allows Teagan’s brothers to both be adults before the person who killed their sister is walking the streets again.”

Gabe Batstone wasn’t in court for the sentencing, saying it was more important for him to be in Ontario for the first day of school – he wanted to be there for his other children.

He adds he’s mentally prepared for his ex-wife to appeal the sentence and her conviction, but Lisa Batstone’s lawyer won’t confirm if that is in the cards.

Eric Gottardi, council for the defendant, says his client was upset and disappointed in the verdict.

“We feel that the mental health system failed Ms. Batstone, failed her daughter, and today’s decision really illustrates how poorly the criminal justice system deals with people who are enmeshed in a mental health crisis,” he says. “We’ll look at the decision, we’ll look at the reasons for sentence. There’s an appeal period of 30 days and we’ll look at whether an appeal’s necessary.”

Gottardi says Lisa Batstone is currently very upset, and will need a few days before she starts looking at the possibility of an appeal.