Andrew Berry will serve 22 years before he is eligible for parole, but will get credit towards his parole eligibility for each day heB次元官网网址檚 been remanded in custody B次元官网网址� nearly two years. Berry was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his two children, Aubrey and Chloe Berry, who were found stabbed to death in their own beds, in their own home on Christmas Day in 2017.
Outside the courthouse after sentencing, Oak Bay Deputy Police Chief Ray Bernoties said he feels nothing positive about the outcome.
B次元官网网址淣othing changed from two years ago on Christmas,B次元官网网址� he said, fighting back tears. B次元官网网址淭wo innocent girls were taken from our community. And weB次元官网网址檒l move on together.B次元官网网址�
"We'll move on together."
B次元官网网址� Nina Grossman (@NinaGrossman)
Chloe was six and Aubrey was four when they were killed. They loved to paint and their favourite colours were pink and purple. Chloe was missing some of her baby teeth and you could see gaps when she smiled. Aubrey would throw her head back when she laughed and wanted to travel the world.
Only whispers were heard Thursday morning when Berry entered the courtroom. He glanced briefly at the rows of people before his handcuffs were removed.
Berry was sentenced to life in prison for their deaths. His sentences will be served concurrently and he will be eligible for parole in 22 years.
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Supreme Court Justice Miriam Gropper laid out her decision for the courtroom after a three-day sentencing hearing, discussing BerryB次元官网网址檚 motive and facts of the case. She noted Berry was not suffering from any mental or physical disabilities at the time of the murders.
| Oak Bay Deputy Police Chief Ray Bernoties spoke outside the Victoria courthouse after Andrew Berry was sentenced to 22 years without parole for murdering his daughters, Chloe and Aubrey Berry. Bernoties said there was no closure from the sentencing. "I can honestly tell you I feel nothing positive from today," he said. "Nothing changed from two years ago on Christmas." (Nina Grossman/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
She determined Berry harboured resentment and anger towards the girlsB次元官网网址� mother, Sarah Cotton, since the couple separated in 2015. Berry testified he thought Cotton had taken intentional steps to B次元官网网址渟crew him over,B次元官网网址� and that he wanted Cotton to blame herself.
Earlier this week, lawyers took turns addressing Gropper with suggested parole eligibility. Defence attorney Kevin McCullough asked for 15 to 20 years and made no mention of consecutive or concurrent sentencing.
Crown lawyer Patrick Weir asked for a sentence of 21 to 24 years for each count, served concurrently or at the same time.
On Monday, Gropper determined the facts of the case which she would base BerryB次元官网网址檚 sentence on. Crown counsel Clare Jennings called BerryB次元官网网址檚 alternate tale of owing money to a loan shark B次元官网网址渃ompletely fabricatedB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟elf-serving.B次元官网网址�
Gropper agreed with Crown, stating that it B次元官网网址渄efies logicB次元官网网址� that the loan shark would kill the children and leave Berry alive.
Evidence shown at trial determined the girls were killed where they were sleeping, in their own home, which Gropper said would be considered an aggravating factor. There was blood inside the suite, but no blood was found anywhere outside the suite.
BREAKING: Andrew Berry sentenced to 22 years before being eligible for parole, for the murders of his daughter Chloe and Aubrey on Christmas day, 2017. Concurrently.
B次元官网网址� kendra crighton (@kendracrighton)
Chloe was struck in the head with a pink toy bat, hard enough to fracture her skull and render her unconscious before she was stabbed 26 times. Aubrey was stabbed 32 times. Both of them had stab wounds to the front and back of their body. Berry was found naked, in a bathtub full of water with wounds to his neck, which the judge found to be self-inflicted.
It is unclear which girl was killed first.
Gropper stated that in both murders, Berry would have had to turn their bodies over at least twice and that he would have had to walk between their rooms. This shows it was not a spontaneous decision and that he would have seen the effects of his stabbing on the first child, before moving on to the next. ItB次元官网网址檚 not known if he went back and forth between the girls, or at all.
A knife, similar to a set found in BerryB次元官网网址檚 kitchen, was found on the floor next to AubreyB次元官网网址檚 body. A sheath for the same knife was found on the kitchen floor. Neither girl had defensive wounds.
On Tuesday, 13 victim impact statements and three community impact statements were read aloud in court.
| A drawing, done by a four-year-old boy who was close friends with Aubrey and Chloe, that was shown in court. It depecits a house on the right, where the little boy is alone in his room crying. On the left, he's drawn Chloe and Aubrey in the sky, in a rainbow house. A line separates the two homes, with a small gap where two birds have flown through. (Provided by Crown Counsel) |
Cotton issued a statement after the sentencing decision on Thursday.
B次元官网网址淚 believe the family law system and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) failed us leading up to the girlsB次元官网网址� deaths,B次元官网网址� Cotton said in the statement. B次元官网网址淚 did everything in my power to keep my children safe. However, my concerns made to MCFD about my childrenB次元官网网址檚 wellbeing in their fatherB次元官网网址檚 care and AndrewB次元官网网址檚 mental health fell on deaf ears. Then my concerns that he had a personality disorder were not brought forward in any significant way through the family court process. I can only hope that changes will be made throughout the family law system so that tragedies such as ours do not happen again.B次元官网网址�
Berry was at the end of his rope financially. He had gambled away his pension from a 15-year career at BC Ferries. His hydro had been cut off and he didnB次元官网网址檛 have money for food.
B次元官网网址淏erry believed, for good reason, that he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 get the girls back when he handed them over to Sarah on Christmas Day,B次元官网网址� said the judge.
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Weir said Crown lawyers believe the sentence is appropriate, but recognize no outcome is enough.
B次元官网网址淥f course heB次元官网网址檚 serving a life sentence so there is no guarantee he will ever get parole,B次元官网网址� Weir said. B次元官网网址淓ven though itB次元官网网址檚 a long period of time, the fact is that it will do some good, but it will not, of course, remove the trauma that has been placed on this community by Mr. BerryB次元官网网址檚 actions, which will last far longer than the 22 years.B次元官网网址�
Crown lawyer Patrick Weir: "Even though it's a long period of time, the fact is, it will do some good, but it won't of course remove the trauma that has been placed on this community by Mr. Berry's actions."
B次元官网网址� Nina Grossman (@NinaGrossman)
In her statement, Cotton noted she is relieved this part of the judicial process is over and supported the judgeB次元官网网址檚 decision, although she said there is no length of sentence appropriate for these crimes.
She thanked Crown prosecutors and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit for their work.
B次元官网网址淚 want to thank my community of Oak Bay, especially all the first responders for their strength, bravery, courage and sensitivity throughout this horrific tragedy. This community, including my neighbours in Oak Bay, have held me up and embraced me the last two years B次元官网网址� I have felt so protected B次元官网网址� I hope to find a little bit of peace in the coming year and hope that we can all heal as we move forward.B次元官网网址�
| Crown prosecutors Patrick Weir and Clare Jennings spoke to media outside the Victoria courthouse after Andrew Berry, who murdered his two young daughters, was sentenced to 22 years without parole. "I'm not sure if satisfied is the right word," said Weir, who asked the judge for 21-24 years without parole. "Relieved that it's finished. and pleased that the community can perhaps start to get some closure and some peace." (Kendra Crighton/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
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