House arrest for Calgary mother of diabetic girl
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 | 3:33 PM MT
The Canadian Press
A Calgary woman who pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessities of life for a daughter who died from diabetic complications has received a conditional sentence.
Tammy Klippel will serve a sentence of two years less a day — the first year under house arrest and the second under a night curfew — and is also ordered to undergo extensive counselling.
Klippel was charged after her 12-year-old daughter, Breyana Willier, died in hospital on Nov. 1, 2004.
Klippel pleaded guilty earlier this month. At the time, defence lawyer Paul Brunnen told the court that financial problems caused his client to let slip various medical appointments and classes on how to deal with a diabetic child.
Breyana got sick Oct. 30, but despite pleas from Klippel's mother, Elsie Ploof, to take her to the hospital, Breyana was kept at home.
The following morning, paramedics were dispatched to the family's home, where they found the girl lying on a mattress with "extremely high" blood glucose levels.
On Tuesday, provincial court Judge Anne Brown called it "a sad and tragic case" that highlights the need for a nuclear family and the problems that rise when a family becomes dysfunctional.
Klippel has only a partial Grade 9 education and had four children by the time she was 18.
The judge called her a well-meaning and well-intentioned person who became absolutely overwhelmed by her obligations as a parent.
