Mother gets 6 years for killing daughter, 2

A judge has sentenced a North York mother who viciously beat her 2-year-old daughter to six years in prison. After her time spent in pre trial custody, she must serve 4 years and nine months more. The sentence was set by Ontario Superior Court Justice Nola Garton on Wednesday. On Jan. 17, Garton found Erika Mendieta guilty of manslaughter in her daughter Emily Lucas' death seven years ago. Erika was charged with second-degree murder. In a fit of frustration on Nov. 13 2003, Mendieta beat the girl unconscious, severely injuring her head and spine. The toddler died in hospital 10 days later. Mendieta lied to paramedics and doctors about how Emily was hurt- claiming she had fallen down a series of stairs, this hampering their efforts to save her. Mendieta's first trial ended with a hung jury in 2009 after her former husband, Johnny Bermudez, stunned the court by testifying he was the real killer. Mendieta was finally put to punishment after three trials, with her final sentence being 6 years.

I found this story very unsettling. I could not believe that a mother would beat her own baby girl of only 2 years old to death. First of all, a child that age is defenseless and would not be able to defend itself, and second of all the mother had no cause to lay a finger on the baby, according to the article the mother claimed to be frustrated. This is no excuse to hurt anybody or thing let alone kill it. I personally feel that the punishment sentenced is not nearly harsh enough and I feel she should be put in jail for the rest of her life.




http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/947431--mother-gets-6-years-for-killing-daughter-2?bn=1