In a sentencing hearing at a Toronto courtroom on December 2, 2023, Shardanae Cousins-Emily faced Judge Kelly Byrne after being convicted of second-degree murder for the death of three-year-old Quintanni Belotte Junior, whom she was babysitting. The crime took place inside the Children’s Aid Society building where Cousins-Emily inflicted fatal blunt force trauma on the child in a washroom, leading to his death the next day. Prosecutors are recommending a minimum parole ineligibility period of 18 years for Cousins-Emily, who will receive a life sentence with a judge-determined term between 10 and 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On December 2, 2023, Shardanae Cousins-Emily, then 22 years old, murdered Quintanni Belotte (also known as Quinn), a three-year-old boy she was babysitting for the weekend, inside the Children’s Aid Society building on Isabella Street. After visiting her own son at CAS for a supervised visit, Cousins-Emily took Quintanni into a washroom where he was killed. She emerged over an hour later, leading to the discovery of the crime. In February 2024, she was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder following a three-week trial. During sentencing on December 6, 2023, Yverson Belotte (Quintanni's father) passionately addressed the courtroom about his son’s death and the impact it has had on him and his family. Cousins-Emily is currently awaiting her sentence in Superior Court.
Written for “Murder Trial Hearing” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Warning: This story contains content that may be disturbing to some readers.
uncertain
that → contain → readers
Discretion is advised.
asserted
Discretion → advise → ?
Standing at the front of a packed courtroom, Yverson Belotte told a judge how the murder of his three-year-old has robbed him of his only child who should have been alive today and would have been six.
asserted
who → stand → child
“He was supposed to be there asking me millions of questions and turning my hair grey,” said Belotte.
asserted
Belotte → suppose → hair
A giant photo of his son Yverson Belotte Junior, also known as Quintanni or Quinn, was held by his girlfriend over his shoulder as he spoke passionately about his son.
“I don’t think you have a capability to understand you have committed an evil crime,” said Belotte, addressing the boy’s killer.
asserted
Belotte → know → killer
In February, Shardanae Cousins-Emily was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder after a three-week trial.
asserted
Emily → find → trial
On December 2, 2023, Cousins-Emily, who was then 22, took Quintanni, whom she was taking care for the weekend, to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) on Isabella Street.
asserted
she → take → Street
She was going there for a supervised visit with her own son.
asserted
She → go → son
After visiting her own son, Cousins-Emily took Quintanni into the washroom on the main floor of the CAS building.
asserted
Emily → visit → building
She emerged more than an hour later.
asserted
She → emerge → ?
A security guard testified he noticed a bump on the child’s head when Cousins-Emily came out of the washroom and offered to get medical help for the child.
asserted
Emily → testify → child
She declined.
asserted
She → decline → ?
Get breaking National news
The following day, the boy died.
asserted
boy → get → news
The boy’s mother, Shania John, cried as she spoke about her son, whom she had just after her 18th birthday.
asserted
she → cry → birthday
“I am hurting.
asserted
I → hurt → ?
I am broken.
asserted
I → break → ?
I don’t know what to say because I still cannot believe this,” said John through tears.
asserted
John → know → tears
John said that she and Cousins-Emily had met at the age of 12, saying they were roommates and foster sisters.
“I believed she understood the pain and the loss and what it meant to come from difficult circumstances.
asserted
it → say → circumstances
I never imagined the person I trusted so deeply would take my son’s life,” John told court.
asserted
John → imagine → court
John said people she doesn’t know have called her “a bad mother” telling court, she doesn’t need to defend herself.
asserted
she → say → herself
Assistant Crown attorney Carime Boehr told Superior Court Justice Kelly Byrne that an appropriate period of parole ineligibility for Cousins-Emily would be 18 years.
asserted
period → tell → Emily
Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence.
asserted
murder → carry → sentence
The judge must decide on a period of parole ineligibility between 10 and 25 years.
asserted
judge → decide → years
SIU clears Toronto police officer who shot suspected killer of Const. Marc Pinizzotto
-
asserted
who → clear → Pinizzotto
International child sex abuse investigation prompts charges for Winnipeg man
-
asserted
investigation → prompt → man
B.C. woman who married ISIS fighter pleads guilty to terrorism charge
-
asserted
who → marry → charge
Fake threat call to Halifax high school came from outside Canada:
asserted
call → come → Canada
Boehr said that Quintanni was helpless and alone when he was taken into the washroom of the CAS where no one could intervene.
“
uncertain
one → say → CAS
The mother believed Cousins-Emily would care for her child.
asserted
Emily → believe → child
Instead, she betrayed Ms. John’s trust by launching a savage attack on Quintanni,” said Boehr.
asserted
Boehr → betray → Quintanni
The crown also said the beating must have lasted for period of time given the nature and number of injuries to Quintanni’s body.
asserted
beating → say → body
“Two of his teeth were ripped out and perhaps most disturbing, this little child suffered what appeared to be defensive wounds,” added Boehr.
asserted
Boehr → rip → teeth
“I ask your honour to consider his terror, fear and pain as this was occurring and consider this a significant aggravating factor,” said Boehr,
asserted
Boehr → ask → terror
The Crown also pointed out that Cousin-Emily tried to clean up the scene to conceal it and for her own self-preservation.
asserted
Emily → point → preservation
Defence lawyers Roger Rowe and Jacob Stilman argued for a 15-year period of parole ineligibility.
asserted
lawyers → argue → ineligibility
Stilman disagreed with the Crown who argued that Cousins-Emily was not remorseful, pointing out that she tried to plead guilty to manslaughter at the outset of the trial but the Crown rejected that plea and decided to proceed with the murder charge.
asserted
Crown → disagree → charge
“This is a brutal gut-wrenching case.
asserted
This → wrench → ?
We are not trying to minimize the grief that our client’s actions have caused and obviously the brutality of it,” said Stilman.
asserted
Stilman → try → it
The last word was given to Cousins-Emily.
asserted
word → give → Emily
“I just want to say I’m sorry,” she said softly.
asserted
she → want → ?
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
