A lady has started serving a five-year sentence for using “poor judgment” when she attempted to suffocate her father in a nursing facility after he urged her to terminate his life.
She will have served at least 10 months of her sentence when she becomes eligible for parole in May of the following year.
Burden claimed that her “loss of judgment” occurred as a result of her 68-year-old father pleading with her to “please just kill me” due to a brain injury and severe dementia.
According to testimony given last week in Brisbane, the daughter of Steven Burden, who is now 47, immediately told a nurse what she had done after pushing the cushion into his face with all of her weight.
Mr. Burden lived, but when asked what had happened, he was unable to recall his daughter’s visit.
Police were only able to accuse Burden of attempted murder after hearing her version of events, and she later entered a plea of guilty.
She informed authorities that at the time she wanted to put an end to her father’s suffering because he was constantly depressed.
Burden, who has no criminal past, had “very awful” personal circumstances, according to defense attorney Charlotte Smith, and she also experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.
On the day of her twins’ one-year anniversary, Mr. Burden was driving to his daughter when he was involved in a car accident, suffering a brain injury.
Burden informed the court that she accepted full responsibility for her acts, deeply regretted what had happened, and recognized the seriousness of the accusation.
She made a statement to the court in which she declared her unwavering love for her father and her best friend.
She had been anticipating seeing her father for the first time in six months since “that awful day.”
She continued, “I made a mistake in judgment during that time together, and it cost me dearly.
Since then, I have not been permitted to visit him.”
Next May 22nd, she will be eligible for parole.
She looked after Mr. Burden for two years after he sustained a brain injury in a vehicle accident.
He pushed her down steps, shattering her ribs, and afterwards moved into the Regis Aged Care home at Sandgate, north of Brisbane.
Following the loosening of Covid-19 limits put in place six months earlier, Mr. Burden was on his bed on September 26, 2020, pleading with his daughter to get him out, according to Burden, who alerted authorities.
When she stated she couldn’t, her father pleaded with her to “please just kill me.” I no longer wish to be here.
According to prosecutor Katrina Overell, Burden rubbed her father’s forehead until his eyes closed before covering his face with a chair cushion.
Burden pushed the cushion with her entire body weight for 25 to 30 seconds before pausing when Mr. Burden kicked his legs.
After Burden admitted to trying to kill someone, Brisbane Supreme Court Judge Soraya Ryan extended her bail.