The case of Audrey and Donald Black will be referred to for years to come once things are finished in May with the final sentencing.

 

The case of Audrey and Donald Black may be coming to an end but the decision the court makes will be referred to for years to come.

Audrey Black has pled guilty to several sex related charges against children under the age of five, including making child porn. Donald Black has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement.

While making a decision in a case, a judge will often refer to other similar cases in the province when it comes to an appropriate sentence. But Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker tells us that's nearly impossible with this case. "It was difficult to find cases where there was a higher number of children abused less frequently so in that regard you're right I wasn't able to find anything from our Court of Appeal that was exactly on point with this."

And it makes it even more difficult being that a woman was involved since most sexual offenders are male.

So the court must refer to other cases that involve children but Parker says most of those only involved one child and usually a family member where this case involved three children being babysat by the Blacks.

The Crown is asking for five years in prison with several conditions attached once Audrey Black is released. The Crown wants a lifetime ban from visiting a public place where children under 14 would normally be, like pools and schools. The Crown also wants a life time ban from working with children and communicating with kids using computers.

The Defence argues their should be no ban on visiting public places with children present and only a 10 year ban on working with children and communicating with kids using computers. They would also like to see a prison sentence less than four years.

Audrey Black will be sentenced May 8th.