A Winnipeg man who pleaded guilty to criminal negligence in the death of his mom has been sentenced to three months in prison with credit for one month time served.
READ: Crown seeking prison time for Winnipeg man who left elderly mom to die
Ron Siwicki’s mom, Betty, fell from her bed in November, 2014.
Siwicki, who lived in the Garden City home with his mother, was unable to lift her up. But instead of calling anyone for help, Siwicki left her lying beside the bed for weeks until she died.
At his sentencing hearing in June the Crown pointed to autopsy reports that spoke of bed sores that extended to the 89 year-old’s bones.
The Crown compared the injuries ‘akin to euthanizing someone by a baseball bat’.
In making her decision Tuesday the judge said a psychiatric evaluation showed no mental illness or mood or anxiety disorders, but it did find Siwicki expressed self doubt and guilt. It also suggested he had hoarding tendencies.
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“Vulnerable members of our society are owed the greatest duty of care by those who look after them,” Justice Colleen Suche said.
More than two dozen letters of support were submitted to the court. Friends described him as a passive and gentle individual who was dependent on his parents.
Several were in court to hear the decision and shouted words of encouragement as Siwicki was escorted away.
The Crown had been seeking 36 months, minus the month served after his arrest.
The Defence had asked for community service, telling the court Siwicki’s mom had told him she never wanted to go to a hospital for treatment and purposely skipped out on appointments.
“Elizabeth Siwicki called the shots. (Ron’s) position in life was to do what his mom asked him to do.”
With time served Siwicki could be released as early as late August.
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