Sentencing of father in Maryk abduction case postponed

The father of two Winnipeg children who disappeared in 2008 and were found almost four years later in Mexico will have to wait to see what sentence he'll receive for his role in the children's abduction.

Kevin Maryk pleaded guilty last week to two counts of abduction in the case of Abby and Dominic Maryk, who went missing in August 2008.

• Kevin Maryk pleads guilty to abducting his 2 children
• Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
• Photos show where abducted Winnipeg kids were kept

Maryk wasexpected to be sentenced on Monday, but the court heard arguments all day.The hearing will continue on July 7.

At the time of their disappearance, Abby and Dominic who were five and seven years old, respectively were on a two-week vacation as part of a court-approved visit with Maryk.

Their mother, Emily Cablek, maintainslegal custody.

The children were found in a townhouse complex in Guadalajara, Mexico, in May 2012 and reunited with their mother in Winnipeg soon after.

Maryk and a co-accused, Robert Groen, were arrested shortly after the discovery and brought back to Canada as well.

The Crown is seeking a five-year sentence for Maryk, while the defence is asking for 18 months, including the time he hasalready served in custody.

Groen was sentenced to one year in jail after he pleaded guilty to abduction-related charges earlier this month.

Mother of abducted in court

Cablek was present for Monday's sentencing hearing but leftwhile a recording of her victim impact statement was played in court.

In the recording, Cablek saidshestill struggles from anxiety, depression and nightmares after Dominic and Abby were abducted six years ago.

The court also heard more details about whatMaryks children went through while they were in Guadalajara.

The children did not attend school during their four-year stint in Mexico and were allegedly kept indoors all day in poor conditions, then often taken to parties in the evening by Maryk, Cableksaid.

In her victim impact statement, Cablek said she noticed her kids had developed bad behaviours in the time spent with Maryk.

According to the recording,Cableksaid her son often talked about crime, gangs, guns and corrupt cops and how they can be paid off.

Her daughter Abby did a lot better reintegrating to life in Canada, but refuses to talk about the experience in Mexico, she added.

Cablek also said in her victim impact statement that both kids have social, emotional and academic issues.

"I'm so scared that things, no matter what I do, are never gonna work out,"Cablek said in the recording.

Maryk's letters read in court

Letters sent byMarykin jail tohis relatives werealso read in court.

In one letter,Marykdenied he and the kids lived in poor conditions, and that it was police that messed upthe home after they seized the kids in Guadalajara.

In the letters healso asks family where the kids are and where they were goingto school, the Crown suggestingMarykmight still be plotting to take the kids again.

Maryk's lawyer insistedhis client is not trying to take the kids again. He saidhis motivation for taking them in the first place was to protect the kids from their mother and her alleged drug use at the time.

Marykis being held in custody until the hearing resumes on July 7.

• ON MOBILE? Check out reporter Nelly Gonzalez's tweets from the hearing.