Sentencing underway for Brian Whitlock in mother's murder

Brian Whitlock is a "high risk to reoffend violently," Crown prosecutors argued at a sentencing hearingfor the Vancouver man convicted ofmurdering his mother.

Whitlockwas found guilty in June of second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Barbara.

In B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday, the Crown argued he should serve 12 to 15 years of the mandatory life sentence before he is eligible for parole.

"The Crown's position is, in these circumstances, where he denies having mental illness,he remains, therefore, a risk to act out violently in the future,"Crown lawyer Elliot Poll explained to the judge.

"This is an aggravating factor, because he's at high risk to reoffend violently again."

The defence asked Whitlock become eligible for parole after serving 10 years.

During histrial, court heard Whitlock'smother sustainedblunt force injuries to her head and neck, and photographic evidenceshowed broken windows and pieces of furniture, as well as a meat cleaverand splitting maul.

Crown lawyers have said he dragged her outsideafter killing her, leaving her on a cement patio. A bleach bottle and mop were found in the home. "I killed Barbie" was written on one of the living room walls.

Whitlock'ssentencing hearing will reconveneWednesday.

In 2013, Whitlockmade headlines afteradmittingto beating his German shepherddog with a baseball bat and leaving it for dead in a Kitsilano dumpster.

DuringWhitlock's sentencing hearing in that case, his lawyer told the court his client was suffering from mental illness.

Whitlock was sentenced to 60 days in jail.