Mr. Root

The defendants, Tamara Bernard and Paulette Villamil, pleaded guilty to neglecting a dead human body under section 182(a) of the Criminal Code.

The deceased, Jason Bernard, had been dead for four years and his mummified body was found in the bathroom of the home shared by the defendants and Ms. Villamil's children.

The defendants claimed they believed in a resurrection.

The court considered sentencing principles, including denunciation and deterrence, and the significant harm caused to the deceased's family and a child living in the home.

Despite mitigating factors such as a genuine, albeit bizarre, belief and no prior criminal record, the court determined that a conditional sentence order was not appropriate due to the prolonged nature of the neglect and the severe impact on others.

Each defendant was sentenced to 12 months in jail, followed by three years of probation.

Two defendants were convicted after trial of assault causing bodily harm.

One defendant was also convicted of uttering threats.

The assault arose from a business dispute over a hotel purchase and was unprovoked and violent, resulting in significant injuries to the victim and his spouse.

Despite the defendants' otherwise good character and community contributions, the court rejected a discharge as contrary to public interest.

The court imposed suspended sentences with 18-month probation, restitution orders, community service for the primary aggressor, DNA sampling, and a five-year weapons prohibition.