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STJOHNS.CBC.CA News - Full Story : Natuashish man gets 7 years for attacks
Last Updated: Mar 16 2005 06:29 AM NST
HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY - A man who subjected a young girl in Natuashish to brutal abuse has received a severe sentence.
The 22-year-old man – who cannot be named because of a publication ban – has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Provincial court judge William English described the attacks as animalistic in nature, but said the man – who suffers from a formal of fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) – desperately needs help.
The man kept his 13-year-old girlfriend captive in a tent outside the community for three weeks.
Almost every day, he sexually assaulted and beat the girl, and even shot her with a pellet gun.
The girl was hurt so badly her mother could not recognize her.
English took into consideration the assailant's condition, as well as the fact he is a gas-sniffer and has had a poor upbringing.
However, he said the man treated his girlfriend as if she were a maligned enemy.
The man's name has been added to the registry of sex offenders.
His sentence includes time he has already served in jail.
Victim recovering
The girl is now living in a foster home in Ontario. She is recovering, but wants to stay there for as long as possible.
The judge says she experienced shocking neglect from her community, and that people knew she was regularly spending time with a man who has a lengthy criminal record.
Meanwhile, English says it is a shame there is no treatment program available to people diagnosed with FASD, which afflicts babies whose mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy.
As many as 60 per cent of the children in Natuashish may be affected to one degree or another with FASD.
Lloyd Strickland, the senior Crown attorney for Labrador, says FASD is playing an enormous part in criminal justice in Labrador.
"We've dealt with a number of cases of extreme violence where the issue and diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome were raised," he says.
"I'm not an expert in the field, but if it does indeed lead people to engage in acts of extreme violence, the costs are enormous."
During the sentencing hearing, English told the court there is at least a "ray of hope" because the provincial government announced $100,000 on FASD awareness and prevention.
However, English said there is no such hope for people already suffering from it.
"I'm not an expert in the field, but if it does indeed lead people to engage in acts of extreme violence, the costs are enormous."
During the sentencing hearing, English told the court there is at least a "ray of hope" because the provincial government announced $100,000 on FASD awareness and prevention.
However, English said there is no such hope for people already suffering from it. |
