Grace Robotti has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years for second-degree murder.
Justice Dev Dley also sentenced the 67-year-old Penticton woman to 27 months in jail for indignity to a human body, which she pled guilty to at the start of her second-degree murder trial, to be served concurrently.
Robotti was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her great-grandson's mother, 26-year-old Roxanne Louie, by a Kelowna jury earlier this month.
Robotti's brother, Pier Robotti, who had a murder charge against him stayed after pleading guilty to interference with a body, was sentenced to 27 months in jail. With credit for time served, he will spend 2 years behind bars.
Both sentences were recommended in a joint submission from the crown and defence.
Roxanne Louie (Facebook)
On January 4, 2015, Grace Robotti and Louie got into a physical argument in Robotti’s Penticton home that ended after Robotti hit Louie with a crowbar 26 times, killing her.
Pier Robotti entered the home during the argument and became involved in the physical fight; however he testified during Grace Robotti’s murder trial that he was not in the room when Louie was killed. He dumped Louie’s body in Naramata following the murder, at Grace Robotti’s request.
The Robotti’s turned themselves into police a week after the murder, following initial claims that Louie was missing, sparking a police search for her.
Prior to sentencing, both Robotti’s addressed the courtroom.
“I terribly regret and am sorry for the events that happened that night,” Pier Robotti said “I totally really regret the loss of [Louie’s family] loved one.”
“My life has had its highs and lows, and mostly unremarkable, quiet and private and I’m not perfect but I’m not a heartless monster as I’ve been portrayed,” said Grace Robotti “never in my worst nightmare could I have imagined that one day I would be involved in anything so devastating and unthinkable.”
The courtroom was packed with family members and friends of Louie, who was a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Following the sentencing, Chief Stewart Phillip said he was deeply disappointed.
“Personally I felt that Grace Robotti should have been tried with first-degree murder,” he said “I believe that the number of blows that were perpetrated against Roxanne beyond the first few indicated a clear intent.”
Louie's uncle, Dan Wilson, called it a lesson in "murder 101".
“You know, cover your tracks, get your lawyer, go with your lawyer to turn yourself in, get rid of the murder weapon, and get the lightest sentence possible.”
Members of the Osoyoos Indian Band and Okanagan Nation Alliance drummed and prayed outside the Kelowna courthouse after the sentencing.
Grace Robotti will be 77 years old by the time she’s eligible for parole.
