Laura Szendrei Killer Sentenced to Life as Adult; Would Have Gotten Seven Years As a Minor
Laura Szendrei's murderer was sentenced as adult. The man who beat Laura Szendrei to death was days away from his 18th birthday when he killed the 15-year-old Laura Szendreei in Delta was sentenced as an adult. He pleaded guilty a year ago.
A young man who bludgeoned 15-year-old girl Laura Szendrei to death in a suburban park near Vancouver, British Columbia, was sentenced yesterday as an adult to life in prison. The courtroom cheered as the judge passed the punishment.
In September, 2010, the now-21-year-old man killed Laura Szendrei in a park in Delta, south of Vancouver. Normally, when someone is sentenced as an adult, the media is allowed to publish the person's name, but the lawyer for Laura Szendrei's killer said she plans to apply for a publication ban in the case.
Laura Szendrei was beaten on her way to meet a group of friends in a forested area of Delta's Mackie Park. Her friends heard her screams, but by the time they found her it was too late. Laura Szendrei was beaten so severely she died in the hospital the next morning.
Laura Szendrei's killer said "I truly don't deserve' forgiveness.'" The court was told that Laura Szendrei's killer thought sex could cure his anxiety.
The community was shocked by the killing, not only was Laura Szendrei so you, the beating happened in a public park on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Laura Szendrei's killer was arrested five months after her death through an undercover operation. The killer confessed and re-enacting the crime.
During sentencing provincial court Judge Robin Baird said "I would give special emphasis to the devastation that the accused's actions have reaped on the family and friends of Laura Szendrei, which rings clearly and painfully from the victim impact materials. This offence has upset this community's sense of well-being and serenity. The accused has, doubtless, struck enduring fear into the heart of every Delta parent."
Laura Szendrei's killer was sentenced to life with no parole for at least seven years.
Laura Szendrei's father, Mike said said the judge had done "the right thing." Mike Szendrei said "It's for Laura. The rest of you parents out there, maybe you don't have to be scared that this guy is crawling around."
Laura Szendrei was killed on Sept. 25, her killer turned 18 on Oct. 1. If he were sentenced as a minory he would have had the protections of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
