Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A former Ottawa woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of her five-year-old daughter, bringing to a close a brief and deeply tragic case that unfolded during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ada Guan, 33, was sentenced on Wednesday by Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein for failing to seek medical help for her daughter, Chloe Guan-Branch, who died on May 15, 2020. The sentence will be reduced by credit for time Guan has already spent in custody. The ruling comes nearly 17 months after Guan pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Court records show that in early May 2020, Chloe suffered a ruptured bladder inside the family’s Ottawa apartment, a life-threatening condition that caused waste to leak into her bloodstream. Despite the child’s rapidly worsening condition, Guan and her then-boyfriend, Justin Cassie-Berube, did not take her to a doctor or hospital for six days. Instead, they searched online for information about her symptoms and consulted a pharmacist.
During this period, Chloe’s health deteriorated sharply. She lost the ability to walk, became incontinent, vomited repeatedly and was heard groaning in pain. Prosecutors said the adults avoided seeking medical care out of fear that authorities would discover physical abuse Chloe had suffered, including an injury to her mouth inflicted by Cassie-Berube on her fifth birthday.
Chloe died alone in her bedroom on May 15, lying in a soiled bed, while Guan watched television in another room. Cassie-Berube was not at home at the time.
After pleading guilty in 2024, Guan remained free on bail but was later arrested in Calgary and returned to custody after repeatedly failing to attend court ahead of sentencing. She also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court, for which she received an additional month in jail, as jointly recommended by the Crown and defence.
The prosecution sought an 11-year sentence for manslaughter, arguing that Guan’s failure to act became more serious with each passing day of her daughter’s suffering. Assistant Crown attorney Khorshid Rad told the court that Guan’s moral responsibility was “very high,” despite acknowledging the controlling and abusive dynamics of her relationship with Cassie-Berube.
Defence counsel argued for a shorter sentence of three to four years, citing Guan’s history of emotional abuse and manipulation. The court ultimately imposed a 10-year sentence.
Cassie-Berube was convicted in 2024 on multiple charges, including manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for what the judge described as extreme and sustained abuse.
During sentencing, the court heard a victim impact statement from a former neighbour who had interacted with Chloe and noticed signs of harm. The statement described lasting emotional trauma and guilt over the child’s suffering.
In a statement read aloud in court, Guan expressed remorse for failing to protect her daughter and acknowledged responsibility for not acting sooner. She has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the sentence.
