EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers.
A Nunavut man who SA国际影视传媒渨aged a campaign of terrorSA国际影视传媒� against his one of his victims over many years, among a litany of other violent crimes, has been declared a long-term offender.
David Mikkigak, 41, was sentenced in February to 6.5 years in prison for an aggravated assault SA国际影视传媒� his most recent vicious act against one of his numerous victims.
On April 12, 2019, Mikkigak, while intoxicated, left a woman with a broken arm after he hit her with a chair, punched her and jumped on her face and head after knocking her down. Also suffering from a cut scalp and bruised face and body, the victim was sent to Ottawa twice for additional medical care.
His full criminal record consists of 87 offences; 45 of those convictions for assaults and threatening behaviour.
SA国际影视传媒淢r. Mikkigak has not spent any significant amount of time out of jail since his criminal record started in 2001 SA国际影视传媒� his pattern of anger, jealousy, and controlling behaviour towards women, is persistent even while sober,SA国际影视传媒� chief justice Neil Sharkey stated.
Despite all of his years in jail, there was SA国际影视传媒渓ittle success in terms of treatment,SA国际影视传媒� Sharkey noted. Although Mikkigak participated in therapeutic programming, he SA国际影视传媒渄isplayed markedly disruptive and uncooperative behavior during treatment sessions,SA国际影视传媒� the court decision states.
While in a federal prison, he expressed willingness to partake in treatment, but was denied due to waitlists.
He declined to be interviewed by a psychiatrist. However, based on extensive file material and conversations with MikkigakSA国际影视传媒檚 family, the psychiatrist identified SA国际影视传媒渏ealousy, and power and control combined with lifestyle instability and active intoxicationSA国际影视传媒� as factors contributing to the offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 troubling behaviour.
Mikkigak recently disclosed to probation services and the that he was sexually abused between the ages of seven and 12 and has since seen his abuser in Iqaluit.
SA国际影视传媒淗e readily acknowledges SA国际影视传媒� his need for counselling. This abuse is obviously something which has had a significant impact upon Mr. MikkigakSA国际影视传媒檚 early childhood development, and in turn his addiction to alcohol.SA国际影视传媒� Sharkey stated Mikkigak had started drinking at age 16 and noted cannabis use as early as age 7.
The prospects for the offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 rehabilitation in Nunavut are limited, the chief judge noted, because SA国际影视传媒渢he situation is dire; half of all programs at our Iqaluit correctional facility are not up and running because of staff shortages. The court was told the programs will not be running for another six months to one year.SA国际影视传媒�
The judge added that SA国际影视传媒渢he programming in our territorial jail is essentially of an educational nature and not near the therapeutic level of intensive group or individual counselling offered in the federal system.SA国际影视传媒�
Sharkey noted that itSA国际影视传媒檚 exceptional for a court to designate someone as a long-term offender. The label is reserved for those who have been convicted of a serious personal injury offence SA国际影视传媒� or certain sex offences SA国际影视传媒� and pose an ongoing threat to the public.
SA国际影视传媒淚 find that the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that there is a substantial risk that the offender will reoffend,SA国际影视传媒� Sharkey stated.
Based on MikkigakSA国际影视传媒檚 time spent in custody awaiting the conclusion of his court case SA国际影视传媒� since April 2019 SA国际影视传媒� he will only have 27 months to serve on his sentence.
Long-term offenders are automatically subject to a long-term supervision order. In MikkigakSA国际影视传媒檚 case, he will be supervised by federal parole services at a halfway house in southern Canada for four years upon his release from prison. The supervision order can be extended for up to 10 years, if deemed appropriate.
Although Sharkey made his ruling on MikkigakSA国际影视传媒檚 long-term offender status and sentenced him on Feb. 10, he only released his written reasons for decision on April 14.
