Monster mom who killed kids loses appeal
By Tracy McLaughlin, Special to QMI Agency First posted: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 07:05 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 07:18 PM EST
Ontario’s Court of Appeal has shot down a murderer’s attempt to get out of prison for killing her two toddlers.
Elaine Campione, 40, was convicted five years ago of two counts of first-degree murder after she killed her daughters, ages three and 19 months, by drowning them in the bathtub on Oct. 2, 2006.
During the trial, the jury watched a horrific video taken by Campione that showed the tots in a bubble bath while their mom sang “twinkle, twinkle little star” before she drowned them.
She dried and dressed them, curled their hair and placed them in the bed clutching hands with a rosary. Shortly after the deed, she is seen on a video blaming her husband for her actions.
“They’re in heaven now. Now you deal with it,” she said vindictively.
Campione pleaded not guilty at her trial, claiming to be not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
But the jury did not buy her defence and as the verdict was delivered, Campione wept and loudly wailed.
She appealed her case to Ontario’s high court, but was shot down Tuesday.
“Oh, thank God,” said Ruth Robinson Tuesday, an elderly former neighbour who lives in the same apartment building where the children were murdered.
“I still see those little girls, little Sophie and Serena, out here playing in the garden,” said Robinson. “I still pray for the little angels every night.”
Robinson was a crucial part of the trial because Campione called her from jail and admitted she had tricked the little girls by asking them to blow bubbles and then pushed their heads under the bath water.
“I’m relieved the Court of Appeal did the right thing,” said Robinson, who still has a photograph of the little girls. “We don’t need her out on the streets again.”
In her appeal, Campione insisted the trial judge erred in his instruction to the jury, which may have confused them in understanding the meaning of the term “not criminally responsible.”
But the court disagreed, finding no basis to conclude there was any confusion.
“The case is both tragic and horrific,” the high court ruled. “The lengthy video filmed by the appellant with scenes before and after the killings vividly recorded the anger, the pathos, and the sad reality surrounding the occasion.”
The court noted Campione understood the killings were wrong.
“The appellant gave a statement to police in which she said that she knew she will burn in sin and will have to answer to God for what she had done and that people would view her as a monster.”
The ruling explained that it’s not enough for the person to suffer a mental illness, if they understand that what they did is wrong in the eyes of society.
A family photo showing Elaine Campione, mother of three-year-old Serena (R) and 19-month-old Sophia. The portrait was taken just weeks before the two children were killed. (Handout)
Monster mom who killed kids loses appeal | Home | Toronto Sun
By Tracy McLaughlin, Special to QMI Agency First posted: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 07:05 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 07:18 PM EST
Ontario’s Court of Appeal has shot down a murderer’s attempt to get out of prison for killing her two toddlers.
Elaine Campione, 40, was convicted five years ago of two counts of first-degree murder after she killed her daughters, ages three and 19 months, by drowning them in the bathtub on Oct. 2, 2006.
During the trial, the jury watched a horrific video taken by Campione that showed the tots in a bubble bath while their mom sang “twinkle, twinkle little star” before she drowned them.
She dried and dressed them, curled their hair and placed them in the bed clutching hands with a rosary. Shortly after the deed, she is seen on a video blaming her husband for her actions.
“They’re in heaven now. Now you deal with it,” she said vindictively.
Campione pleaded not guilty at her trial, claiming to be not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
But the jury did not buy her defence and as the verdict was delivered, Campione wept and loudly wailed.
She appealed her case to Ontario’s high court, but was shot down Tuesday.
“Oh, thank God,” said Ruth Robinson Tuesday, an elderly former neighbour who lives in the same apartment building where the children were murdered.
“I still see those little girls, little Sophie and Serena, out here playing in the garden,” said Robinson. “I still pray for the little angels every night.”
Robinson was a crucial part of the trial because Campione called her from jail and admitted she had tricked the little girls by asking them to blow bubbles and then pushed their heads under the bath water.
“I’m relieved the Court of Appeal did the right thing,” said Robinson, who still has a photograph of the little girls. “We don’t need her out on the streets again.”
In her appeal, Campione insisted the trial judge erred in his instruction to the jury, which may have confused them in understanding the meaning of the term “not criminally responsible.”
But the court disagreed, finding no basis to conclude there was any confusion.
“The case is both tragic and horrific,” the high court ruled. “The lengthy video filmed by the appellant with scenes before and after the killings vividly recorded the anger, the pathos, and the sad reality surrounding the occasion.”
The court noted Campione understood the killings were wrong.
“The appellant gave a statement to police in which she said that she knew she will burn in sin and will have to answer to God for what she had done and that people would view her as a monster.”
The ruling explained that it’s not enough for the person to suffer a mental illness, if they understand that what they did is wrong in the eyes of society.
A family photo showing Elaine Campione, mother of three-year-old Serena (R) and 19-month-old Sophia. The portrait was taken just weeks before the two children were killed. (Handout)
Monster mom who killed kids loses appeal | Home | Toronto Sun
