The young man who murdered 15-year old Laura Szendrei spoke in court for the first time today, saying he does not deserve forgiveness for what he has done.
“I can only imagine the endless pain and suffering that the Szendrei family felt and I do not ask for forgiveness as I don’t deserve it,” said the 21-year-old, who cannot be identified because he was a minor at the time the crime was committed.
“That day, I was so depressed and I felt alone, but it was so selfish of me to think that I could have solved my problems by taking someone else’s life,” he said.
The young man pleaded guilty last year to killing Laura Szendrei in a North Delta park after he attempted to subdue and rape the girl in September 2010.
Laura had been on her way to meet some friends in the park when the man attacked her. Szendrei screamed and got away, but he caught up with her and beat her over the head with a metal pipe.
Today, the court heard testimony from the federal and provincial correctional institute regarding what type of sentencing Szendrei’s killer would receive.
The judge heard the young man would need the same secure custody setting in prison as those given to high-profile offenders such as serial killer Robert Pickton.
The crown is asking for an adult sentence, while the defense is asking that the killer be sentenced as a youth.
The whole sentencing hearing is expected to wrap up possibly tomorrow afternoon, and the judge is not expected to be coming back right away with the sentencing decision.
With files from Canadian Press and Grace Ke
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