A beauty contestant who pleaded guilty to looting London Drugs said she made a split second decision to follow crowds through the broken door to steal a bag of chips, two bottles of water and a Canucks water bottle.
Sophie Laboissonniere of Richmond, who was 19 at the time of the 2011 Stanley Cup riots, has pleaded guilty to rioting.
She told police in a statement when she first turned herself in that she was both fascinated and repulsed by the rioting on June 15, 2011.
Laboissonniere, with long, brown hair, black sweater and grey skirt, chatted occasionally with her lawyer as Crown counsel Patti Tomasson entered facts into the record at her daylong sentencing hearing in Vancouver provincial court.
She was accompanied by four people in court, including her parents.
The Crown is seeking a two-month jail sentence to adequately deter others from similar crimes, but isnt opposed to Laboissonniere serving it in the community as a conditional sentence, commonly called house arrest.
Her lawyer, David Baker, has asked the judge for a conditional discharge, meaning his client wouldnt have a record.
Baker argued the notoriety shes suffered by her story being published and broadcast in dozens of media outlets around the world would effectively deter others.
He said Laboissonniere, who won Miss Congeniality in the 2011 Miss Coastal Vancouver pageant, has received more media attention than any other rioter. She was mentioned by late night talk show host Jay Leno and compared to a porn star on pornography websites, he said.
He also noted that Laboissonniere volunteered to give seminars on her experience to her former Richmond high school and spoke to 700 students, as a way of making amends.
And he said a change in her anti-depressant medication shortly before the riot may have affected her judgment that night. He said her identical twin sister said she wasnt herself at the time.
Tomasson said a discharge is inappropriate and has been denied for other rioters already sentenced. She noted Laboissonniere had spent hours downtown in the midst of the riot before deciding to loot.
The judge will sentence her at a hearing next month.
Laboissonniere said in her statement that after she followed the crowd into London Drugs and stole the items, she returned to join her sister, who hadnt gone in with her.
Her sister told her she was angry with what she had done and she dropped the merchandise and they left after a few minutes.
Laboissonniere was among 300 looters who entered the store that night.
London Drugs suffered $900,000 in losses that night, most in lost or damaged merchandise.
It has filed lawsuits against several looters and alleged looters, including eight it named and others it identified as John Doe and Jane Doe.
Laboissonniere wasnt among the looters named.
The five-hour riot caused $4 million in damages and made news around the world.
More than five dozen adult rioters have been sentenced so far, with sentences ranging from 20 months in jail to a conditional discharge.
