Lisa Batstone, accused of daughter’s murder, makes tearful court appearance
Posted December 18, 2014 11:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – It was highly emotional court appearance this morning in Surrey for a mother accused of murdering her eight-year-old daughter.
Her lawyer says she’s currently unfit to stand trial.
Defense lawyer Craig Sicotte describes Lisa Batstone as “emotionally fragile.”
Through tears, the mother of Teagan Batstone blew kisses at her family members in the courtroom gallery. They, in turn, passed a note through her lawyer to phone them.
Sicotte says she needs another psychiatric assessment beyond one that was done overnight.
“The court can’t proceed unless they find Ms. Batstone fit to stand trial. So, she’ll be under some psychiatric care over the next short period of time. And that determination will have to be made by a judge based on whatever evidence we get from the psychiatrist,” he explains.
“Ms. Batstone’s mental state is very fragile, as you can imagine. So, without an assurance that she’s fit to stand trial, the case can’t proceed any further,” he adds.
Sicotte describes Batstone as a “loving and devoted mother” to Teagan, whose body was found in the trunk of a car in South Surrey last week. Hundreds attended a service for the girl last night in White Rock.
The case has been put off until January 5th.
