Justice Pilgrim Faces Tough Call in Child Cruelty Case

Tonight, Justice Nigel Pilgrim faces a tough decision, what sentence to hand down to thirty-six-year-old Michael Cowo, who pleaded guilty to child cruelty last month in the High Court. Cowo admits he made a terrible mistake when he left his two-year-old son home alone, and now he’s asking for a second chance to be with his family. His attorney, Dr. Lynden Jones, is pleading for compassion, a suspended sentence, counseling, and a curfew. His mother, sister, and common-law wife all echoed that call for mercy, describing Cowo as a loving father who made one bad choice. But the Crown isn’t budging. Prosecutors argue that this is a serious offense and are pushing for the mandatory minimum of fifteen years. They say the court must send a strong message that abandoning a child is unacceptable, even if the child wasn’t physically harmed. In this case, the toddler was found wandering the streets at four a.m., crying uncontrollably. Justice Pilgrim has adjourned sentencing until November twenty-first to weigh all sides and deliver a decision guided by law. Earlier today, Cowo spoke his last words to the court: ‘I am truly sorry. I know I can’t undo what I did, but please be merciful. I miss my family. I just want to see my son.’ The boy was just two years old when this happened. Today, he’s five. The question now, will the court show mercy, or make an example?