How can a killer be eligible for parole in 10 years?
Editor:
Re: Szendrei murder case sentencing pending.
For the love of heaven someone please tell me how someone can bludgeon to death an innocent 15-year-old girl, with an iron pipe, in broad daylight, without provocation and be eligible for parole in only 10 years. This is assuming the assailant receives an adult sentence which crown is seeking. I just don't get it.
For those of you with computers look up the name Laura Szendrei online to read the specifics. The assailant was a few days shy of his 18th birthday at the time. Since he was not yet 18 he can technically be sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and get off with a far lighter sentence. The motive for killing the young Delta girl has not been disclosed. However, other than to make some sense out of this despicable act that is beyond one’s comprehension that makes little difference.
If the individual is sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act he could spend as little as four years in jail and perhaps less if the time he has already been incarcerated is taken into account. Seven years is the maximum sentence. A maximum of seven years and possibly as few as four years in prison for destroying a human life? That is simply a travesty.
A young lovely 15-year-old girl's life was snuffed out by a total moron. Laura was walking through a park in North Delta in broad daylight when he suddenly sprung on her beating her head into a pulp.
Laura Szendrei's mom and dad are emotionally destroyed. They will never be the same people. You never, ever, ever get over something like this as a parent! Their daughter has been taken from them forever. All they have are memories, writings and photographs. They shall never see her lovely smile or hear her say, " Love you mom. Love you dad." .....ever again. They shall never hear her sing. Dad will not have the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle and give her away at her wedding. How can one even try to imagine the pain the parents and other loved ones are feeling and will feel for the rest of their lives? We cannot, unless we ourselves have lost a child.
The fact that this individual confessed may bring some relief to the parents because at least the Szendrei family will not have to endure sitting through a trial and seeing the killer of their daughter; an individual who gave himself the power to take a human life.
What happened to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for committing such a crime? If this individual is eligible for parole in 10 years and succeeds he will have his entire life ahead of him. Twenty-eight years old is very young. He will have the chance to pursue a university degree or already have one after getting out of prison. He will be able to date, drink with his buddies, get married, have children, travel to exotic places, have birthday celebrations, love someone and be loved by others. He will get on with his life and feel that he has paid his debt and that he has a right to move on with his life. He may or may not be haunted with what he did or he may succeed in compartmentalizing things to the point that what happened two years ago is nothing but a blur to him. With some events time has a way of turning into shadows things we would rather forget. However there are some things that can never be forgotten. The memories can never be extinguished. The gaping holes in the hearts of the Szendrei family will never be filled with the passage of time.
Personally, I do not believe the Szendreis will receive justice unless this individual spends the remainder of his natural life behind bars. I do not say this out of vindictiveness but I do believe it is time the courts gave restitution its due. If this individual chooses to be remorseful and does a complete about face and becomes a model citizen let it be behind bars. I’m sure the prison population would benefit from his efforts. Regardless, I believe for restitution's sake he needs to forfeit, under our present judicial system, all that young Laura forfeited. The courts and society owe Laura and her parents at least that much. My heart felt sympathies go out to young Laura’s loved ones.
David F. Horvath
Delta
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