Probation for Repeated Domestic Violence

Charge(s):

CC: s.266 x 2 – Assault, s.264.1(1)(a) x 2 – Uttering Threats, s.267(a) – Assault with a Weapon, s.88(1) – Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, s.145(5) x 2 – Failing to Attend Court

Allegations:

My client was accused of inflicting harm on his wife on several occasions within the past eight years of their marriage. On one occasion, he threw a telephone at her, causing bruising and swelling to her hand. On another occasion, he hit her with a garbage can in the face and almost broke her nose. She lied to the hospital staff about what happened. After completing a 14-week domestic violence course, earlier charges were withdrawn. A few years later, following a heated argument, my client threw his wife down on their bed and held her down, threatening to kick out her teeth and shove a boot up her @%%. When she tried to leave, he body checked her into the wall and then left. One month later, again during a heated argument, while my client was verbally abusing his wife, she tried to calm him down by hugging him, he threw her down on the couch and held her down for about one minute, making threatening remarks, then lifted her off the couch, tearing her night gown in the process, and walked away into the kitchen. She followed him. He grabbed a hammer off the counter, pointed it at her and said: “I will break every bone in your body,” then hit a kettle with the hammer. She ran upstairs and locked herself in a room with their two small children and called police. She had visible bruising to her neck area. After being arrested and released, my client failed to attend court on two separate occasions.

Result:

Since he had already been given the benefit of a peace bond, that option was not available, so I negotiated a plea deal where my client would plead guilty to only one charge of assault. Instead of jail, my client received a suspended sentence, and probation for one year, with one condition that he participate in domestic violence counseling. All other charges were withdrawn.