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While she said she’s remorseful for what she’s done, her words in court weren’t what gave her a sliver of hope that someday, maybe, she might have a glimpse of freedom.

Rather, it was her abrupt and unexpected confessions last fall, made after checking herself into mental health care, that spared her multiple parole ineligibilities in a case that shocked and saddened Southwestern Ontario and beyond.

Photo by Charles Vincent/Special to The London Free Press/Postmedia News

“Without her confessions, I’m convinced this offender never would have been brought to justice,” Thomas said in his 20-minute decision that accepted a joint sentencing position proposed by the Crown and the defence — life with no chance of parole for 25 years for eight counts of first-degree murder, 10 years for the four attempted murders and seven years for two aggravated assaults, all to be served at the same time.

The judge reminded everyone there that Wettlaufer is unlikely to ever be released.

“It must also be remembered that while she is eligible to apply for parole in late 2041, she may, in fact never be paroled considering the number and nature of her crimes. And that, in fact, seems likely.”

It was a day filled with sadness and extraordinary descriptions of the vulnerable people who found themselves in the grips of the murderous nurse who made decisions on who lived or died, depending on her mood and ability to cope with her own problems.

She felt driven by some urge when she was nursing at Caressant Care in Woodstock, Meadow Park in London, and while working for nursing agencies providing home care and support.