Edmonton woman gets 8.5 years for role in child’s death

EDMONTON Three years after tiny Anthony Raine’s battered, frozen body was discovered outside an Edmonton church, the woman convicted of manslaughter in his death has been sentenced.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Graesser handed Tasha-lee Mack an 8.5-year prison term Monday.

With credit for pretrial custody, Mack has five years remaining on her sentence.

Mack and the 19-month-old baby’s father, Joey Crier, were initially charged with second-degree murder. Both were convicted of manslaughter after separate trials found the Crown hadn’t proven who struck the blows that killed Raine — or that they were intended to kill.

Mack and Crier abandoned Raine’s body outside Good Shepherd Anglican Church on Castle Downs Road. Passersby discovered it several days later on April 21, 2017. An autopsy found Raine had died of head trauma, likely inflicted 12 to 18 hours prior to his death.

Mack, 28, cried during part of Monday’s proceedings.

She then gave a rambling statement about her mental health and her treatment in remand, where she spent 610 days. She said she suffered abuse from both staff and inmates, who called her “baby killer.” The Crown conceded Mack was assaulted at least once while in custody.

“I understand what I did,” said Mack. “I know it was wrong. And the only way I can make up for it is making sure it never happens again.

“I truly am sorry to every single person who was hurt due to my negligence.”

Crown prosecutor Monica Sabo argued Mack should be sentenced to 10-12 years in prison.

She said that while the Crown never proved who specifically dealt the blows that killed Raine, Mack undoubtedly witnessed Raine’s condition and did nothing to intervene or seek help for the injured toddler.

Sabo said Raine’s death was a “culmination of weeks of abuse” that left his skull fractured and his face covered in bruises. He was also malnourished, which Sabo attributed to “complete incompetence” rather than a malicious attempt to starve him.

“She concealed and abandoned him, even when he was injured and dying,” Sabo said. “She did nothing but co-operate with Mr. Crier in finding a place to leave him.”

She added, “it is abundantly clear Ms. Mack has no remorse or insight into this horrific crime.”

Mack told a forensic psychiatrist she was off her longtime mental-health medications at the time of Raine’s death, and that her recollection of the events is patchy and confused. The psychiatrist’s report found Mack’s version of events “implausible” and said she was “overly dramatic and appeared to exaggerate” psychiatric symptoms.

The psychiatrist concluded Mack did not have any features of a psychotic disorder, mood disorder or anxiety disorder.

Defence lawyer Ajay Juneja disagreed, saying there was evidence his client has “severe” psychological issues owing to an organic brain injury, describing her as a person with “limited cognitive function.”

Crier has yet to be sentenced.