Neil Snelson did not know Jennifer Cusworth, 19, before he bludgeoned her to death in Kelowna in an apparent sex attack back in 1993.
Last month, he was found guilty of manslaughter for the college student’s death and on Thursday, during a sentencing hearing, Snelson got an understanding of the person she was through victim impact statements provided by family and friends.
Cusworth is described as vivacious, friendly and outgoing who was full of hopes and dreams.
At one time, Cusworth’s parents thought they could forgive Snelson but not now.
In a written statement, Jean Cusworth says, “That option is no longer a possibility for me ever as he remains a coward to this day who refuses to accept responsibility for his cold-blooded, brutal actions and dragged not only us but his family through a very, very painful trial.”
Cusworth says she was disgusted when every day during the trial, Snelson would smile and wave to his supporters in the courtroom, calling it “a very grandiose, cavalier and callous way to behave for someone charged with first degree murder.”
During the heart wrenching remembrances, some people in the courtroom were moved to tears but Snelson showed no emotion.
New information revealed at the sentencing hearing show the depths of Snelson’s alleged perversions.
Before he murdered Cusworth 18 years ago, Snelson was convicted three times for performing indecent acts in public and allegedly admitted to other incidents where he was not caught.
In 2009, when Snelson was a suspect and under RCMP surveillance, officers say they observed him parked outside a shopping mall during his lunch break, watching women while masturbating inside his vehicle.
After his arrest, police checked the traffic records on Snelson’s home computer and allegedly found thousands of pornographic pictures and videos with hundreds being extremely violent and depicting sexual torture and bondage.
Snelson’s defense lawyers contest the police allegations of public masturbation and say it may have been someone else who used the home computer to access the violent pornography.
If the judge accepts the allegations as true, it will play into her sentencing decision.
The prosecution is asking for 16 to 20 years; the defense wants 8 to 12 years.
The hearing continues on Friday.
Cusworth’s parents have said they will not make any public comments until after the sentencing hearing.
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