ST. STEPHEN, N.B. - A New Brunswick woman who destroyed the body of her newborn son will serve two months of house arrest as part of a 14-month conditional sentence handed down Friday by a judge.
Judge David Walker also ordered Becky Sue Morrow, 27, to continue counselling in a case he described as "a most distressing matter.''
Morrow had earlier pleaded guilty in provincial court to offering an indignity to a dead body and disposing of a newborn with the intent of concealing a delivery.
Under the conditions of Morrow's sentence, her place of residence must be approved by parole authorities and she will not be allowed in the community without supervision.
It is not known if the baby was alive when born on March 12, 2007, at Morrow's home in Old Ridge, near the Maine border, west of Saint John.
Walker passed sentence after finding Morrow criminally responsible for her actions.
He found that while Morrow may have been suffering from a mental disorder when she delivered the baby, that was not the case when the baby's body was burned in a fire pit and its remains hidden.
At earlier hearings, the court heard conflicting reports from the two psychiatrists. One said Morrow was in a "disassociated'' mental state when the crime occurred, and the other said she clearly planned her actions and understood the consequences.
Based on similar cases, Walker said the overriding theme in sentencing is rehabilitation.
"Ms. Morrow is in need of help and counselling to ensure she never repeats this behaviour, including disassociating at times of stress,'' he said.
Walker said jail time would not be appropriate for Morrow, adding that she is not a threat to the community.
"These events will never go away from her,'' he said.
Court was told Morrow tried to conceal her pregnancy from her family before giving birth in a toilet at her home on the morning of March 12, 2007.
In finding her criminally responsible, Walker noted that Morrow told her sister she was going to use the fire to roast hot dogs.
That testimony showed Morrow was trying divert her sister from what she was doing on March 12, he said.
"These words and actions are not in my mind consistent with a person acting in a state of being detached from reality and unable to control her behaviour,'' Walker said.
"The behaviour and actions of Ms. Morrow from the time she became pregnant to the commission of these offences were bizarre and incomprehensible.''
Morrow, already the mother of a two-year-old child, told police she had hidden her pregnancy from her family and friends out of embarrassment.
Crown prosecutor Jim McAvity told the court he supported a community-based sentence of about one year of house arrest and three years' probation.
"The facts of the situation are horrific and heart wrenching,'' he added.
Outside court, McAvity said Morrow will face a difficult time in her town.
"This is a small community and I'm sure most people would recognize who she is ... and I expect it won't be easy for her to go out in the community,'' he said.
