Winnipeg Free Press: Parents sentenced to house arrest in death of toddler who died in care of nine-year-old sister
The couple’s sentence is to be followed by three years probation.
It “seems like a low sentence, and I expect most people in society would feel the same way,” said University of Manitoba assistant law professor Brandon Trask.
“There would have been, from my perspective, a clear pathway to conviction for criminal negligence causing death which, in theory, could have led to a maximum sentence of life, though realistically that sentence would not have been imposed in the circumstances,” he said.
A sentencing judge has limited leeway to depart from a joint recommendation, Trask said.
“It also seems like the focus was on the rehabilitative work the parents have been doing to improve their parenting skills, which would be an important consideration,” he said.