Mom of murdered infant sobs as victim impact statement read in Saskatoon court

The mother of an infant who died after being brutally abused sobbed in court Thursday as her victim impact statement was read during the sentencing hearing of the girl who committed the crime. (Photo by Ed Bierman/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

SASKATOON — The mother of an infant who died after being brutally abused sobbed in court Thursday as her victim impact statement was read during the sentencing hearing of the girl who committed the crime.

Nikosis Cantre was six weeks old when died of his injuries in a Saskatoon hospital in July 2016.

Alyssa Bird, his mother, told court that part of her died the day that he passed away.

“I didn’t want to be alive anymore, I wanted to go with him,” Bird said in her submission that was read by a cousin.

“A part of me has died. I’ve been robbed of my baby … I’ll never get to hear my baby call me mom. He never got to see his first Christmas.”

The girl, who is now 17, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

The judge must determine if she is to be sentenced as an adult or a youth.

The maximum youth sentence for second-degree murder is seven years in custody.

An adult sentence for second-degree murder for someone who was 16 or 17 at the time of the crime includes life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years.

Earlier in the trial the Crown played a tape of the girl talking with police in which she described how she beat the baby in a rage. The boy’s parents had brought the girl into their home to help her get off the streets.

Other victim impact statements read in court Thursday also noted how the infant’s death has broken their lives.

“It’s like we don’t know how to be happy anymore,” said Charlene Longman, the boy’s grandmother.

Sentencing proceedings were to resume Friday with final arguments from the lawyers.

The teen is also expected to address the court.