Justice Louise Charbonneau compared the scene of a Behchoko assault to a horror movie in delivering her decision on Mandy Goulet's sentence Wednesday in the NWT Supreme Court.
Goulet, 24, was sentenced to three years imprisonment on three charges including attempted obstruction of justice, assaulting a peace officer, and aggravated assault based on a stabbing which took place in January 2019.
Charbonneau told the court that in the images entered as exhibits, the gash to the victim's forearm was so deep that bone was visible. Even after surgery to repair her forearmSA国际影视传媒檚 nerve and tendon damage, the court heard that the victim was still not able to form a fist six months after the injury and it is unclear whether or not they will ever fully recover.
The victim needed 48 stitches after GouletSA国际影视传媒檚 assault.
"It is not difficult to imagine that this must have been an absolutely terrifying experience," the judge said.
Goulet was convicted of attempting to obstruct justice because she tried to convince the victim not to testify.
GouletSA国际影视传媒檚 charge on assaulting a peace officer is unrelated, though all three were wrapped up in WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing. In February 2020, while in custody at the Fort Smith correctional facility, an officer was escorting Goulet from one side of the facility to the other when she punched him repeatedly in the face.
In a pre-sentence report (PSR), Goulet said that she SA国际影视传媒渄oesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know where (her) anger comes from.SA国际影视传媒�
The court heard that Goulet comes from a SA国际影视传媒渟upportive family,SA国际影视传媒� and had a SA国际影视传媒済ood upbringing.SA国际影视传媒�
In delivering her sentence, Charbonneau acknowledged GouletSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous background, adding that as her personal circumstances are positive, Gladue factors are not as significant in reducing moral blameworthiness.
Charbonneau called GouletSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渇renzied anger,SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渙ut of control,SA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渇rankly frightening.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t is a matter of pure luck (Goulet) didnSA国际影视传媒檛 hit a vital organ and cause death.SA国际影视传媒�
Many similar cases of impaired disputes turning violent appear before the court and end in homicide, she said, including a case of manslaughter that appeared in the same courtroom earlier this week.
In the defenceSA国际影视传媒檚 submissions, lawyer Jay Bran recommended Goulet be released on the 528 days she has already served in custody. Charbonneau said SA国际影视传媒渢ime served would not reflect the severity of these offences.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲hat (Goulet) showed herself capable of doing is very scary,SA国际影视传媒� Charbonneau said. SA国际影视传媒淚f this is what happens when she snaps, next time she could kill someone.SA国际影视传媒�
For aggravated assault, Charbonneau sentenced Goulet to three years in prison. For attempted obstruction of justice, nine months, and for assaulting a peace officer, three months. The terms are to be served concurrently. Otherwise, Charbonneau said, the sentence would be "potentially crushing" at 48 years in total.
With the applied credit of GouletSA国际影视传媒檚 time served, she has 10 months left in custody, followed by two years on probation.
A sentence Charbonneau called SA国际影视传媒渧ery restrained,SA国际影视传媒� noting the 14 year maximum for charges of aggravated assault.
Charbonneau told Goulet it is in her best interest, and the best interest of those around her, that she SA国际影视传媒渦nderstand what triggers her anger,SA国际影视传媒� and learn to SA国际影视传媒済et it under control.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 wish you the best for the future,SA国际影视传媒� Charbonneau said to Goulet. SA国际影视传媒淚 hope youSA国际影视传媒檒l never have to be in a courtroom again.SA国际影视传媒�
