A Surrey woman who stabbed her mother to death three years ago will have to wait at least 12 years before applying for parole.
Gloria Zerbinos, 31, was found guilty of second-degree murder in September in the stabbing death of her mom, Pangiota "Yota" Zerbinos. Though the conviction carries an automatic life sentence, parole ineligibility can range from 10 to 25 years.
On Monday (Dec. 21) in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, a judge set ineligibility at 12 years for Gloria, minus the three years she has spent in pre-trial custody. During a sentencing hearing earlier this month, Crown had recommended 13 years, while defence suggested 10-12 years.
It was revealed during the trial that Yota was dropping off clean laundry to her daughter's basement suite on Nov. 8, 2012 when she was killed. The mother was 43 when her then-28-year-old daughter stabbed her at least two dozen times. Yota was discovered later that evening, a knife still protruding from her chest, her body draped in a blanket.
The court heard that after the incident, Gloria dropped off her toddler son at Yota's mother's home nearby, but said nothing about the stabbing. Gloria was arrested two days later at a Vancouver strip club. While no motive was established, lawyers agreed she suffers from a psychotic disorder and abuses drugs and alcohol.
The Crown also said Gloria has displayed delusional and volatile behaviour in jail.
In fact, she is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of a fellow inmate in November 2013, and has another assault charge from the June prior, also while in prison. A preliminary inquiry for the murder charge is scheduled for February.