'Our children are vulnerable': Judge sentences Calgary mother to 3 years in prison for son's strep death

A Calgary mother convicted in her son's "senseless" death after failing to take the bedridden seven-year-old to a doctor for his treatable strep infection was sentenced to three years in prison Friday.

Tamara Lovett, 48,was found guilty in January of criminal negligence causing the death of her son, Ryan, who died in 2013.

"Our children are vulnerable," said Court of Queen's Bench JusticeKristineEidsvik. "[Lovett's]actions resulted in the senseless death of an innocent child who needed her protection."

Defence lawyer AlainHepnerhad proposed a jail term of one year plus probation, while the Crown arguedLovettshould spend four to five years in prison.

"This sentence of three years really pales in comparison to the life sentence she's received already for being responsible for the death of her child," Hepner said.

• Mother convicted in son's strep death won't be sentenced if judge agrees trial took too long

Eidsviknoted the sentence was also designed to deter other parents from failing their children in the same way. A message prosecutor JonathanHaksaid was made clear.

"If your child is not getting better, you are legally and morally bound to take your child to an actual doctor for actual medical care."

Lovett's sentence was handed down shortly after the judge denied her defence lawyer's Jordan application, whichargued Lovett's rights were violated because it took too long for her case to make it through the court system.

"It would not be just to set aside a conviction and issue a stay," said Eidsvik in delivering her decision Friday morning.

Hepnerhad asked the judge to direct a stay of proceedingsunder new Supreme Court guidelines that put hard timelines on what isconsidered unreasonable delay.

The Superior Court judge also took the opportunity to comment on what she characterized as "staggering" court delay in Alberta.

"In a perfect world that we are far removed from here in Alberta the case could have been heard within 11 months."

• 'I now know better': Mother guilty in son's strep death speaks at sentencing hearing

In2013, Ryandeteriorated in his mother's apartment for 10 days andwas nevertaken to a doctor.

On the night of March 2, 2013,Lovett called 911after finding Ryan on the floor in their apartment. He was dead when paramedics arrived.

Lovett testified she believed Ryan had a cold or flu and treated him withholistic remedies such as dandelion tea and oil of oregano.

Eidsvikheard evidenceat the trial that Ryan also had meningitis and pneumonia on top of strep. Doctors testified his infection would have been treatable had he been prescribed antibiotics.

In assessing Lovett's moral blameworthiness, Eidsvikfound Ryan "wascompletely dependent on his mother for using common sense in treatment choices" and died"an excruciating, unnecessary death."

'I can't begin to forgive myself'

During sentencing arguments, Lovett spoke through tears about the agony she's suffered since losing her son.

She said she no longer holds the same beliefs and would take her son to a doctor if she could turn back time.

"[I] can't begin to forgive myself," said Lovett. "I hope others learn from my ignorance."

Lovett, who had been on bail until Friday, was escorted into custody by a sheriff after the judge handed down the sentence.

A pre-sentence psychiatric report foundLovettfeels helpless,hopeless and struggles with depression.

EiskvikfoundLovett'sremorse to be genuine and noted the loss of Ryan was already a"severe punishment"

"Tamara Lovett killed her child, that's a terrible thing for her to live with," said Hak. "I don't know what justice is in a case like that."