Five years for
stabbing wife

31 times

A NORTH VANCOUVER
mother is fuming that her
daughter's killer was sentenced
to only five years in jail on Jan.
2 in Spokane County Superior
Court.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

“It's time for me to speak up.
I've been quiet until now for the
children's sake.’ said Mary
MaciInnes, 65.

MacInnes’ daughter, Mary
(Cookie) Birnel, was stabbed 31
times by her husband Rick Birmnel on
March 30, 1995, in their Spokane-
area home.

The 36-year-old mother of five
children was stabbed in the back
and received at least five fatal knife
wounds, said MacInnes.

The former Halifax resident was
killed on her 10-year-old daughter's

-CORRECTION-

f Due to a printing error in this
week's Super Valu Flyer (January |
14-20,1996) the following item

which appeared on page 9 should {
1 have read:
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-CORRECTION-

Oue to a printing error in this
week's Extra Foods Flyer (January

f 14-20, 1996) the following item
which appeared on page 9 should |

have read:
Catelli Pasta = 28 |
4 79

assorted, 900g
atelli Pasta
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f We apologize for any inconve-
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5 tomers.

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birthday, said
MacInnes.
She — said
two oof the
children were
present) when
their mother
was being
stabbed.
“The other
girls came
upstairs and
watched — my
daughter dying
with a knife in
her chest.” said
MaclInnes.
“She = was
breathe, 1
Maclnnes.
Rick Birnel had been released on

Mary Macinnes
is appalled by
sentence.

can't
said

saying, ‘I
can't) breathe.”

$25,000 bail within a few weeks of

being charged.
The accused killer had access to
the children.

“He had temporary custody of

the kids. He was seeing them all the
time, | had to make appointments.”
said MacInnes.

Rick Birnel was found guilty of

second-degree murder after a week-
long jury trial in November.
Spokane County Superior Court

Judge Kathleen O°Connor sen-
tenced Birnel to five years in jail.

Prosecutor Dannetle Allen said
that Washington State has a sentene-
ing reform act that is designed to
give standard sentences, taking into
account the crime committed and
the accused's criminal history.

Alten said Rick Birnel’s standard
sentencing was caleulated as being
123 to 164 months (10 to 13 years).

Allen said that if a judge finds
mitigating circumstances (which
permit greater leniency) then an
exceptional sentence may be
imposed.

“She (the judge) said the victim
was a willing participant in a dys-
functional relationship = which
included past domestic violence.
And there was the use of metham-
phetamines.” said Allen.

Allen said she anticipates an
appeal of the sentence.

MaclInnes is contemplating mov-
ing to Spokane to take care of her
daughter's children.

“[don’t want them to go into fos-
ter care, but my age is against me.”
said MacInnes, who is lives on a
seniors’ pension. Birnel’s five girls
are age 18, 12, 10, eight and two.

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Sunday, January 14, 1996 ~ North Shore News — 7

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