A New Brunswick woman refused to tell a judge why she lied to police in her home province and Toronto about being carjacked at gunpoint in August.
"It would be very helpful to know why she did this," Edward Derrah, lawyer for Marcia Lynette Simmons, told a court in Burton, N.B. on Monday while arguing for a conditional discharge.
"She is not prepared to disclose that. ... Perhaps she doesn't want it splashed all through the media."
His client has not told either police, a probation officer or even her friends and family what motivated her to drive the 14 hours to Toronto back on Aug. 8-9, he said.
Simmons alleged to Toronto police that her carjacker, who she called "James," had him drive her around the city for three hours before asking her to drop him off at a Steeles Avenue East park. Simmons even gave a description of a distinctive tattoo on the suspect's neck.
About one week after the incident, Simmons confessed to the made-up story.
"I just want to say I'm sorry," said a tearful Simmons, "I know the amount of work it took."
However, a provincial court judge granted Simmons, 44, a conditional discharge despite admitting that not knowing the whole story left her somewhat in the dark.
"I find it helpful to have at least some understanding into a person's motivation ... what caused them to do what they did," said Judge Patricia Cumming.
The judge said the story about the Aug. 8 abduction raised legitimate fears in the community about a dangerous, gun-toting criminal on the loose.
"You have a certain amount of notoriety," she told Simmons. Cumming asked the convicted woman to explain herself.
"I wish I could," Simmons said. "I'm willing to talk to somebody, but I want it to be in confidence."
Outside the court, Simmons continued to keep her secret. "I'm done," she told reporters as she sat in her van. "... I just don't want to comment, I just don't."
Cumming ordered Simmons to perform 150 hours of community service and to get mental health counselling. The judge also imposed a $100 victim's surcharge.
If Simmons lives up to the terms of her sentence, she will avoid a criminal record.
With a report from CTV Atlantic's Jeff Harrington and files from The Canadian Press
