Manitoba mom sentenced to life in prison for murder of toddler

A Manitoba woman will spend at least the next 12 years in prison for what the judge called a "horrific" murder of her young daughter.

Vanessa Bushie was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 14 years for the killing of 21-month-old Kierra Williams.

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Bushie pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the toddler's death earlier this year, and on Wednesday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Chris Martin handed down her sentence, agreeing to a joint recommendation from the Crown and Bushie's defence lawyer.

Kierra was rushed from her home on Peguis First Nation to a nearby hospital in July 2014 with serious injuries.

When she arrived, doctors found her malnourished, dehydrated and suffering from a number of significant injuries.

In April, Bushie admitted to contributing to the toddler's "severe neglect and abuse" as well as an "assaultive incident."

Her husband, Daniel Williams, has been charged with manslaughter in the case. His trial will begin early next year.

Prolonged period of neglect and abuse

On Wednesday, Crown attorney Daniel Chaput described the circumstances surrounding the child's death and what happened during her short life.

Child and Family Services took Kierra from Bushie at birth. The mom had two other children in care at that point because of a "domestic incident."

She spent close to a year in a foster home in Winnipeg but was returned to her mom in July 2013. CFS continued to monitor Kierra until the following January, but the Crown said they didn't have any concerns about the child's wellbeing.

In fact, they reported Kierra seemed happy and well-fed. But, in the following six months, Chaput said, that changed.

Testimony from family members indicated Kierra would cry constantly and didn't want to eat. That prompted a prolonged period of abuse and neglect from her mother, Chaput said.

He said family members described regular beatings, force-feedings and shocking details of abuse that lasted a period of about six months.

When 911 was finally called on July 17, 2014, ambulance attendants found Kierra extremely underweight, dehydrated, bruised, scarred, missing teeth and unable to breathe.

An autopsy later determined Kierra died of abdominal blunt force trauma. Some of her internal organs burst, and she suffered severe internal blood loss.

Initially, Bushie said the injuries were from falls, playing with other children and an attempt by Bushie to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the child.

Chaput said the autopsy and evidence from doctors showed a "much more disconcerting story."

The child was beaten with pots and pans, shaken, kicked, hit, slapped and made to sleep on a hard floor, according to testimony from family members.

If Kierra "looked sad," one of the family members testified, Bushie would lock her in a room.

'Never got the counselling she should have'

Bushie's lawyer, Mike Cook, said Bushie had a difficult childhood.

Cook said Bushie was sexually assaulted as a child twice, and at age 16, her father was killed. After that, she was in a series of abusive relationships and began to abuse drugs and alcohol.

"I describe her as a tragic figure … Much of her childhood was stripped away from her," said Cook. "She never got the counselling she should have along the way."

He said Bushie did ask CFS for help with Kierra, who cried constantly, perhaps because she was removed from her foster mother, who she had bonded to.

Bushie received a respite worker for about six months until March of 2014.

"She was simply overwhelmed," he said.

Now, he said, Bushie is remorseful and prays her daughter is in heaven and might forgive her.

He said she feels guilt and remorse.

Bushie sat with her head down for much of the hearing on Wednesday, crying through the details of abuse Kierra suffered and when her lawyer described her own childhood.

When Bushie was asked if she wanted to speak in court, she said, "No, your honour."

'It takes a village to raise a child'

Justice Chris Martin accepted the joint recommendation of life in prison with no chance of parole for 14 years. Bushie has already served two years and will be eligible for parole in 12.

Martin called Kierra's killing a "horrific case," adding she suffered six months of extensive physical abuse and prolonged neglect.

He acknowledged Bushie endured pain and hurt as a child, but said based on CFS involvement and the time period over which the abuse happened, she was "fully, fully aware of what she ought to be doing" to take care of Kierra.

Martin expressed concern that no one stepped forward to stop the abuse sooner.

"There's no indication for me that this family lives in such a state of isolation that others should not have seen what was easily available to be seen," he said. "I'm left looking at this situation mindful of the phrase, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' … Where the hell was this village?"

The justice accepted a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence lawyers.