Warning: This story comprises particulars some readers could discover disturbing
A Regina lady needs she may take again her actions that killed her toddler in June 2021. Throughout sentencing submissions, Brittney Burghardt advised court docket that she failed her children and takes full accountability.all
Burghardt, 28, beforehand pleaded responsible to forcible confinement and manslaughter within the dying of her two-year-old daughter, Kassie. She was initially charged with second-degree homicide.
The Crown needs to see Burghardt spend a complete of at the least 12 years in jail for her offences. The defence argued for a lesser sentence of two years in custody given her decreased cognitive capability and decrease ethical blameworthiness.
Post-mortem outcomes affirm Kassie died from blunt drive trauma to the top in June 2021, one month earlier than her third birthday.
Kassie suffered the damage after being repeatedly thrown right into a wall by her mom, based on an agreed assertion of information between the Crown and defence.
“If I had the prospect to return, I might cease, suppose and alter my actions for the higher for her and her brother and sister,” Burghardt mentioned in court docket whereas studying an announcement she wrote.
“I want I may have yet another probability to see her once more, to inform her how a lot mommy misses her and to have that probability to present her hugs and inform her that mommy loves her and that mommy is sorry.”
The Crown submitted textual content messages between Burghardt and her associate, Justin Anderson, that present the couple considered Kassie as a “brat”, “burden” and “drawback youngster” in comparison with Burghardt’s different two youngsters.
“When she had sufficient of her daughter’s misbehavior, she killed her,” mentioned Crown prosecutor Chris White.
On the morning of June 9, 2021, Kassie refused to face within the nook of her room for a timeout, based on the information offered in court docket. Burghardt turned annoyed and threw her daughter into the nook, hitting Kassie’s head on the wall.
Burghardt mentioned the woman then “glared at me,” which is when the mom threw her daughter towards the wall a couple of extra occasions earlier than Kassie collapsed and have become unresponsive.
Earlier than calling 911, Burghardt contacted Anderson to inform him what occurred. The couple concocted a plan to inform police the woman unintentionally tripped and fell down the steps.
A little bit over an hour after Kassie had been harm, Burghardt lastly known as EMS.
Paramedics responded to the house on the 2300 block of Retallack Avenue. Kassie was taken to hospital earlier than being airlifted to Saskatoon. She was pronounced mind lifeless on June 11, however stored on life assist to make sure her organs could possibly be donated.
Courtroom heard that within the weeks main as much as Kassie’s dying, Burghardt had been taping her daughter’s wrists and legs all the way down to the mattress each time she went to sleep for a nap and at evening.
“She was bodily certain. I might undergo you that’s the worst type of confinement,” White mentioned.
White advised court docket it was Anderson’s thought to tape down Kassie, and Burghardt adopted alongside. The couple later progressed to blindfolding the woman as nicely.
“It’s her obligation as a mom to take care of her and to guard her from hurt, not topic her to it,” White mentioned.
“She failed spectacularly within the obligation she owed to that youngster.”
Based on defence lawyer Thomas Hynes, Burghardt has at all times had vital cognitive deficits and issues along with her parenting skills. A psychological evaluation reveals she has a average mental incapacity.
Burghardt was 26 on the time of her daughter’s dying, however Hynes argued that she operates much like a youth because of her decreased cognitive capabilities.
“Brittney’s capability is rather a lot decrease than loads of different offenders that come earlier than the court docket,” Hynes mentioned.
Burghardt had been receiving at-home assist via a Ranch Ehrlo program that introduced staff into her house 40 hours every week to assist her take care of her three youngsters.
Nonetheless, Hynes mentioned the assist stopped in March 2021 when the provincial authorities minimize this system’s funding. He urged that was the tipping level for the occasions main as much as Kassie’s dying.
Hynes advised court docket Burghardt is “not capable of dad or mum three younger youngsters with out ample helps in place.”
Burghardt’s different two youngsters have been apprehended. She is just not at the moment in custody.
“Brittney takes full accountability for what she’s performed,” Hynes mentioned. “She’s extraordinarily remorseful.”
Hynes argued for a considerably decrease sentence much like that of a manslaughter sentence handed all the way down to a youth. He urged a two-year sentence in a minimum-security establishment for manslaughter and three years of probation for forcible confinement.
“We’re asking for a very distinctive sentence on this case as a result of Brittney’s circumstances are terribly distinctive,” Hynes mentioned.
The Crown requested for a jail sentence of at the least 10 years for the manslaughter conviction and a two-year sentence for forcible confinement. White urged the sentences must be served consecutively for a complete of 12 years.
Justice Beverly Klatt will now contemplate each the Crown and defence’s arguments earlier than delivering her ultimate sentencing resolution on this June 16.
Anderson has additionally pleaded responsible to forcible confinement. He’s scheduled again in court docket for sentencing submissions on March 27.