A previous Ottawa resident, who was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of her five-year-old daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term with credit for time served. This marks the conclusion of the tragic story of Chloe Guan-Branch.
In the spring of 2020, Chloe urgently required medical attention to save her life after her bladder ruptured in her Ottawa apartment on May 9, leading to a life-threatening situation. Despite her deteriorating condition, her mother Ada Guan and Guan’s partner Justin Cassie-Berube failed to seek medical help for six days. They researched her symptoms online and consulted a pharmacist but never took her to a doctor, even as her health rapidly declined.
The court heard that they were hesitant to take Chloe to the hospital due to fear of authorities discovering the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of Cassie-Berube. Tragically, Chloe died alone in her room on May 15, 2020, as Guan watched television in another room and Cassie-Berube was absent.
Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein delivered the sentence after Guan, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter 17 months earlier. Guan was arrested in Calgary in September for repeatedly missing court appearances before her sentencing.
During the sentencing hearing, the Crown and defense presented differing recommendations for the manslaughter charge. The Crown sought an 11- to 12-year sentence, emphasizing Guan’s prolonged inaction and moral culpability, while the defense argued for a lighter sentence, citing Guan’s history of emotional abuse and control in past relationships.
The judge echoed the Crown’s position, emphasizing the severity of neglecting a vulnerable child to society. Guan, during her statement in court, expressed deep regret for her inaction and acknowledged her failure to act on the signs of abuse. The judge acknowledged Guan’s history of abusive relationships but emphasized that it did not excuse her neglect.
Guan, who has the option to appeal the sentence within 30 days, faces approximately nine and a half more years in prison, factoring in the time already served.