Jaylene Sanderson-Redhead was pronounced dead on June 29, 2009. Her mother has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Courtesy of family
A Winnipeg mother who suffocated her two-year-old daughter at a woman's shelter has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Nicole Redhead, now 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year in the June 2009 death of Jaylene Sanderson-Redhead.
Her mother worked a number of years in the sex trade and was addicted to crack cocaine, court was told during the sentencing hearing in March.
Her three children were taken from her by Manitoba Child and Family Services.
But in 2009, she regained custody of Jaylene from CFS as she entered an aboriginal women's shelter that offers parenting courses and other supports.
Not long afterwards, Redhead became violent with the young girl and one night, she held her hand over the girl's mouth until she stopped breathing, court was told.
Justice Glenn Joyal gave Redhead credit for time served, leaving her with eight more years and eight months left behind bars.