A horribly scarred body, disabled fingers that can no longer play the piano and a fear that grips her every waking hour -- that is the legacy Stuart McKellar Cameron has left for a young girl he almost killed, a judge was told yesterday.
The description was of Theresa Wu, who was only 14 when Mr. Cameron broke into her Toronto apartment, killed her 18-year-old sister and left Theresa for dead.
The Taiwanese teenager did not return to Toronto for yesterday's sentencing hearing, but sent a victim-impact statement that was read by Crown attorney John McMahon.
The statement, translated from Mandarin for the court, describes both her emotional and physical scars.
"It feels very empty without my second sister at home. The whole family's laughter in the past will never return.
"I always feel no sense of security, very afraid that someone may be hiding in the house, in the closet, thus, there were several nights I dare not to go to sleep, wanted to protect my family."
Despite two years of operations and physical therapy on her left hand "I cannot play piano, I cannot learn to play flute. . . .
"Even I have gone through a lot, the pain is causing me to cry throughout this rehab period. The pain is greater than what I felt during the operation."
Her words and those of her parents in their own impact statements moved many in the courtroom to tears. Members of Toronto's Taiwanese community packed the large courtroom to hear the judge pass the sentence.
But Mr. Justice Dave Watt reserved his decision until Feb. 14, saying he needed time to consider the submissions on what would be an appropriate sentence for the 34-year-old father of three.
On Jan. 14, Mr. Cameron pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Tina Wu and attempted murder of her sister Theresa.
As well, he admitted to sexually assaulting and robbing two other young Asian women in separate attacks in the same North York neighbourhood where the Wu sisters were living while studying.
A second-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence. At issue yesterday was how much time he must serve before he's eligible for parole.
Mr. McMahon argued that Mr. Cameron should be incarcerated for 20 years.
Mr. Cameron's lawyer, Daniel Brodsky, said a term of 15 years behind bars would be more appropriate.