Thirty-four-year-old Adam Cyr of Regina was looking at a minimum life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 10 years. Instead, a judge today upped the parole ineligibility to 12 years because of the nature of the crime.
Justice Fred Kovatch says Cyr was in a position of trust, and did not seek medical help after severely beating a two-year-old toddler in June of 2012.
Natalia Shingoose suffered multiple fractured ribs and internal injuries. She took several hours to die.
Today, her mother, Amanda Trevors, and 13 other family members read victim impact statements to the court detailing the pain and loss they have suffered. Trevors says the family will never get closure.
She also says Cyr should take ownership for what he has done.
“It does bother me that he can’t be a man and take responsibility for what he has taken from my whole family,” she says. “It’s not just me you know, it’s every single mother out there and it could happen.”
Cyr’s lawyer, Bob Hrycan, told the court Cyr cannot express remorse for something he did not do. He says that was his position during the trial and that position will not change, even if it means no parole.
“So his eligibility for parole as it stands right now partly depends on him stating to the parole authorities that he did this,” says Hrycan. “And I don’t think he ever will.”
Cyr has been in jail since June of 2012. He will now be moved to a federal penitentiary, likely the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
Meantime, Hrycan is hoping to have the conviction overturned on appeal. There is no word on when the case might be heard.