Calgary dayhome operator Elmarie Simons has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
In passing sentence Tuesday afternoon, provincial court judge Jim Ogle called Simons’ actions cruel and callous.
On the day her trial was scheduled to begin, Simons instead pleaded guilty and admitted her negligence caused the death of 18-month-old Ceira McGrath.
Ceira’s father said he wished the sentence was longer, but accepted it, given it’s in the range proposed by the prosecution and defence.
“I thought it was a very thoughtful judgment,” Ryan McGrath said. “We’re glad she’s gone away.”
According to an agreed statement of facts, Simons put Ceira in a car seat on Nov. 12, 2015 and left her in a closet for more than five hours — leaving the home completely to go to Walmart and McDonald’s.
Ceira died from asphyxiation caused by the car seat strap.
Simons was immediately taken into custody.
Her defence lawyer Alain Hepner said the sentence falls in the appropriate range.
When asked how she’s feeling, he said, “not great.”
“She’s 59 years old, going to a federal penitentiary, never been in trouble before. On balance, this is a horrific offence to which she plead, and properly so.”
Last weekend the McGrath family had a party that should have been a joint birthday party for Ceira and her twin brother.
Instead, her brother Colby was left to celebrate turning four without Ceira.
She’s remembered by her family as a perfect little girl who was full of life.
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