The sentencing hearing continues for a young man who pleaded guilty to murdering Delta teen Laura Szendrei.
A psychiatrist took the stand today, saying the man, who is now in his 20’s, needs indefinite supervision because he cannot control his behaviour.
Dr. Paul Janke said the young man was aroused by deviant sexual behaviour and had trouble controlling those emotions.
The young man told the psychiatrist that he believed having sex with an unconscious woman would help him overcome his nervousness and insecurity around women, and that is what provoked him to attack Laura.
After the attack, the psychiatrist says the man showed little guilt, no emotional distress and no concern other than for himself and his family.
The psychiatrist is recommending that the defendant be closely supervised until he is at least in his 40’s, possibly his early 50s.
The judge is to decide whether the defendant should be sentenced as a young offender or an adult.
If he is sentenced as an adult, he could get an automatic life sentence and would be eligible for parole in seven years. As a young offender, he would get a maximum sentence of 7 years – 4 years incarceration and three years conditional sentence to be served in the community.
The accused has already served two years and five months in prison, and is expected to get credit for time served.
The man cannot be identified because he was still a minor when the crime was committed. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Szendrei’s killing.
It was also revealed that in the months leading up to Szendrei’s death, the man also attacked three women near Burns Bog. He was never charged in connection to these offences.
With files from Tanya Beja and Darlene Heidemann
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