Panhandler sentenced to 12 years in prison

Nicole Kish, a toronto-panhandler convicted of in the 2007 murder of 32 year old Ross Hammond was sentenced monday in a toronto courtroom. The 24-year old woman received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 12 years.

Family and friends of both Hammond and Kish packed the courtroom to hear her fate.

Earlier today, at Kish’s sentencing hearing, the court heard tearful victim impact statements from Hammond’s relatives, including his wife, mother, sister and niece.

The 32-year old St. Catharines man was stabbed to death on Aug. 8, 2007 after a night out with friends. Hammond was bar hopping on the Queen Street stretch when he encountered Kish. A group of panhandlers, including Kish approached him for money, an altercation ensued and Hammond was stabbed several times in the chest. He was rushed to hospital but died two days later.

Kish had been serving a life sentence since March 1st, when Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer ruled that Kish was guilty of second-degree murder. The crown was seeking a 14-year sentence for the young woman.