A woman facing a lengthy prison term for leading savage attacks against two youths has been attempting to become a pen pal with two notorious serial killers, evidence presented in court on Wednesday indicates.
In the time she's been in custody at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Mercedes Rae Jewett, 23, has sent letters to Robert Pickton and Cody Legebokoff, the court heard during a sentencing hearing for her and co-accused Hayden Lee Alwood,20.
She has also corresponded with several other people described as career criminals either serving time for sexual or violent offences or accused of committing such crimes.
They include a former Prince George man convicted of incest and making child pornography, whose name is protected by a publication ban, and Angela Hammerstrom, a local woman with a lengthy criminal record and currently in custody on a charge of human trafficking.
Other than that Pickton replied to one of her letters, no further detail was given on what was written and whether anyone else responded to Jewett.
That she has been writing letters to such people is a concern, the court was told, because they indicate she is not seeking pro-social contacts.
Jewett has pleaded guilty to three charges related to a Jan. 7, 2013 incident that ended with one of the youth left unconscious out on a snowbank in the back alley of the apartment building where the attack occurred.
Crown prosecution is seeking as much as 12 years for Jewett less credit for time served in custody, which now stands at about 4 1/2 years. Defence counsel is seeking time served followed by three years probation.
For Alwood, who also pleaded guilty to three charges, Crown argued for six to nine years less credit of two years nine months for time served. Defence is calling for three years less time served followed by three years probation.
The court has heard Jewett was the "catalyst" for the attacks on the two, both 17-year-old boys, after suspicion erupted that one then another had molested Jewett and her friend while they were asleep following a party in Jewett's apartment.
Jewett and Alwood were the only adults among at least a half-dozen people involved in the acts.
Alwood smashed an empty vodka bottle over the head of the first victim, who was also punched in the face and kicked in the head before he convinced the group he was not the perpetrator, the court has been told.
The first victim was confined to another room in the apartment and with his help, the second victim, a cousin of his, was lured back to the location. The group took turns beating on him before Alwood pulled his pants down and one of the youth sodomized him with a broom handle.
He was also hit in the head with a frying pan and Jewett kicked him in the head several times. Unconscious, he was dragged out to the snow bank. One of the culprits convinced the building's assistant manager to call 911 and when RCMP arrived, Alwood and the others pretended to be good samaritans and claimed they had simply found him there.
The victim suffered serious injuries, including bleeding on the brain.
Defence counsel for Alwood contended he was a follower and motivation for the attack was revenge while the sexual assault was not the primary purpose.
It was also noted Alwood had only recently turned 18 and was legally an adult for just six to seven weeks when the incident occurred. As such, defence counsel argued for a sentence similar to a term one of the youth received.
Alwood also wrote a letter to the court expressing remorse for his actions and, when given a chance to speak, apologized to the victims, the court and his family.
Defence counsel for Jewett noted she did not harm the first victim and, in fact, wiped the blood from his head and gave him a THC pill.
Police have described the attacks as "horrific" and "disturbing."
The sentencing hearing continues Friday.
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