Sentencing for Man Convicted in the Murder of 3-Year-Old Over Video Game

A Calgary man who beat his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter to death over the interruption of video game has been brought back to court for a sentencing hearing.

Ivy Wick was reportedly injured on September 27, 2017, and she died in hospital of head and brain injuries eight days later. An autopsy revealed she suffered blunt face trauma. According to reports by CBC, when the girl was admitted to hospital, “Justin Bennett told the police and medical staff he heard a ‘scream and a thud’ come from the girl’s room where she’d run after getting in trouble for a tantrum.”

Justin Bennett, 30, was charged a year after he confessed to undercover police that he had “snapped when the girl interrupted his video game.” He reportedly smashed her head, threw her against the wall then tripped her as she ran to her bedroom.

Bennett had a video game addiction at the time of the incident.

In March 2021, Bennett was convicted of second-degree murder following a trial. However, the sentencing was delayed several times after Bennet fired lawyers and failed in a bid to have a mistrial declared.

During the sentencing hearing in court, Ivy’s mother Helen Wordsworth said “I will never forgive you for taking my child out of my arms. I hope her face haunts you until the day you die.”

Prosecutors argued that Bennett should spend 15 years in custody before he is allowed parole, but Bennett’s lawyer says he should be eligible for parole after 13 years. In his submission, Greg Lazin, Bennett’s lawyer argued that his client “was exceedingly immature at the time of Ivy’s death.”

Lazin also argued that his client was raised in an unstable home and had no understanding of how to be a parent. He also stated that there was no previous history of abuse. Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that there were highly aggravating factors in the case, including that Bennett was a caregiver of the child, he delayed calling 911 and also lied to medical staff about the incident.

Court of King’s Bench Justice, Blair Nixon will hand down the sentence on February 16, 2024.

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