The courtroom was packed and emotions were high at a sentencing hearing today for the Regina couple convicted of starving a four-year-old girl to death and causing serious harm to her two-year-old sister.
Today, Tammy and Kevin Goforth addressed the court to say they were sorry from the bottom of their hearts and to ask the victim’s family for forgiveness.
They were the caregivers of the two little girls from November, 2011 until August 1, 2012 when the children were rushed to hospital severely malnourished, dehydrated and covered in bruises and open sores.
The four-year-old had no pulse, she was revived but declared brain dead a couple of days later. The two-year-old recovered quickly after getting food and fluids.
Tammy Goforth sobbed as she tried to get out her words of apology to the victim’s family. Her husband, Kevin, was more composed, but also broke down a couple of times. The mother of the little girls yelled out, “I will never forgive you”.
Earlier, the prosecution laid out its case for sentencing. Tammy Goforth was convicted of second-degree murder. Prosecutors want her to serve 18 to 20 years before being eligible for parole. The minimum is 10 years.
Kevin Goforth was convicted of manslaughter. Prosecutors are asking for a life sentence with no parole for at least seven years.
The grandmother of the little girls says they should get the maximum sentence. She was also not impressed with their tearful apologies.
“They are sorry they got caught,” she said. “They starved those kids. There is no remorse. They are crying for themselves. I don’t care, they’re not sorry. I will not believe they’re sorry.”
The defence is asking for the minimum sentence of life with no chance of parole for 10 years for Tammy Goforth, and a sentence of two-and-a-half to eight years for Kevin Goforth.
Neither have ever been in trouble with the law before and were portrayed by their lawyers as a loving couple who cared deeply for the little girls.
Justice Ellen Gunn has reserved her decision on sentencing until March 4.
Court was also told that both Kevin and Tammy are being held in protective custody after receiving death threats.