Crown seeking life sentences for Goforths

Tammy and Kevin Goforth are seen outside Court of Queen's Bench in Regina on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016.

The Crown is seeking life sentences for a Regina couple convicted of killing a four-year-old girl and neglecting her two-year-old sister.

During sentencing arguments Friday, Crown prosecutor Kim Jones asked a judge to sentence Tammy Goforth to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 18 years. The Crown is seeking a life sentence with no parole eligibility for seven years for her husband Kevin Goforth.

Tammy Goforth's lawyer, Jeff Deagle, asked for a life sentence without parole for 10 years. He said she is already in protective custody in prison because of death threats. Lawyer Noah Evanchuk, who represents Kevin Goforth, requested a sentence between 30 months and eight years for his client.

Queen's Bench Justice Ellen Gunn has reserved her decision on sentencing until March 4.

A jury found Tammy Goforth guilty of second-degree murder in the four-year-old’s death. Kevin Goforth was convicted of manslaughter.

The couple was also found guilty of criminal negligence causing bodily harm to the younger girl. Both children were in the Goforths’ care.

The trial heard the girls weren’t given enough food, were kept in poor conditions and sometimes restrained.

In July 2012, the four-year-old girl was taken to Regina General Hospital in a malnourished and dehydrated state. She later died of a brain injury after suffering cardiac arrest.

Her younger sister survived.