Murder’s impact described
George MacKenzie’s daughter describes impact of killing as murder case sentencing submissions begin for Dorothy Groves
The healing process is “just beginning” for Georgette MacKenzie, more than four years after her father was stabbed to death in his Aylmer St. apartment by Dorothy Groves.
Tears flowed in Peterborough Superior Court of Justice as the daughter of victim George MacKenzie was the first to read her victim impact statement as sentencing proceedings began Tuesday for the 44-year-old, who was convicted of second-degree murder July 8.
There is “no peace” for her family, which was forever changed by the homicide, Georgette said. But their cherished memories of her dad remain intact.
“We have been battered and beaten, but we are not broken,” she said, after explaining how she is “plagued” by questions such as if she could have saved her father, or if she would be dead, too, if she tried to thwart the stabbing.
As she testified during the trial earlier this year, Georgette missed a telephone call from her father at 6:44 p.m. on July 28, 2012.
“Within minutes of that call, he would be dead,” she said.
The body of the 66-year-old was found by city police dispatched to check on his well-being two days later after a concerned neighbour called 911.
Adjusting to life has been a challenge, explained Georgette, who also later read the victim impact statement written by her brother, who lives in Alberta. A total of seven statements have or will be filed by prosecutors.
The toll has mounted since she first learned of her father’s death, she said, describing her continuing battle with anxiety, depression and “an overwhelming sense of loss.” She remains on medication and remains unfit for work duties she has done for more than 20 years.
Now struggling with mistrust, Georgette is on “constant alert” and no longer feels comfortable in or around groups of people, including her own friends, she said. Many friends wanted to help her in the wake of the killing, but were unable to. “I wouldn’t let them in,” she said. For her, justice meant learning what happened leading up to the death of her father, who was stabbed in the upper chest with one of his own knives.
Groves herself displayed no “believable” signs of remorse, and was disrespectful, Georgette said, noting how many of the family’s questions may never be answered. The killer entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter at the start of her trial, but the Crown rejected it.
Groves maintained control of her emotions as Georgette struggled, at times, to control hers as she read her statement for the court.
Pictures from the murder seen are “burned” into her memory and “tortured” her, she said, describing seeing them for the first time in court. “It will haunt me forever.”
Her father was a “loving, strong man” who often sported a “silly grin,” Georgette said. “I’m thankful for all that dad taught me just be being himself.”
Her dad enjoyed the moment and didn’t hesitate to help others. In fact, it was his acceptance of others that may have been what was taken advantage of by Groves, she said.
With its verdict, the trial jury agreed with the Crown’s assertion that the homeless woman stabbed Mr. Mackenzie to rob him of items to sell for drugs.
The trial heard testimony from 19 Crown witnesses and eight defence witnesses on 27 days over a threemonth span.
Before the victim impact statements were read Tuesday afternoon, the morning’s proceedings dealt largely with what materials could be considered by Justice Alex Sosna as he determines Groves’ eligibility for parole.
She will receive a mandatory life sentence. The judge will come up with a figure between 10 and 25 years, the period set out by law. Jurors submitted recommendations that Groves should serve 15 to 20 years before she’s entitled to parole.
Among the materials filed for the proceedings are court records from Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, where Groves has been an inmate. They include a misconduct where she allegedly hid a chocolate bar in her bra.
The superjail’s head of security took the stand briefly to answer questions from defence lawyer Tony Bryant and prosecutor Lisa Wannamaker regarding the information, focusing primarily on the amount of time the facility spends in lockdown.
Assistant Crown attorney Amanda Kok earlier argued presentence conditions are not relevant to the sentencing, citing a similar case.
Bryant countered by asking Sosna to take the incarceration conditions into account as part of what Groves has experienced throughout her life.
Sentencing proceedings continues Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.