Judge shows ‘restraint’ in sentencing man for stabbing
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on September 30, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A Lethbridge man who was facing two years behind bars for stabbing two men during a drunken dispute last year, will serve a considerably shorter jail sentence.The Crown was seeking a two-year sentence for John Nickolas Gondurak-Courtoreille, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of aggravated assault. However, Justice Jerry LeGrandeur said during a sentencing hearing Thursday in Lethbridge court of justice, Gondurak-Courtoreille would “not fare well in a jail setting” of any significant length given his mental health issues, and he sentenced him to 90 days in jail.
Defence counsel had suggested the offender receive a two-year conditional sentence, which often allows an offender to serve a custodial sentence in the community, typically under house arrest and curfew.
LeGrandeur acknowledged the serious charges, and said while the accused’s moral culpability is relatively high, he pleaded guilty and is remorseful for his actions. He also suffers from depression and anxiety disorder, and had previously attempted suicide.
“Restraint is called for,” LeGrandeur said.
Gondurak-Courtoreille pleaded guilty to the charges in March, but sentencing was adjourned to allow time for the preparation of pre-sentence and Gladue reports. The reports consider systemic and background factors of an aboriginal offender, and the types of sentencing procedures and sanctions that are appropriate in the circumstances.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts in March, Crown Prosecutor James Rouleau told court that on March 6, 2022 Gondurak-Courtoreille was with a group of friends at a city bar. At about 2 a.m. Gondurak-Courtoreille became embroiled in a dispute with several people, which shortly afterward got out of hand.
“It evolved to the point of a physical altercation, and finally escalated to the point of several people being stabbed,” Rouleau described. “The physical altercation ended after the accused produced a folding knife.”
Gondurak-Courtoreille stabbed one man six times in the back and chest, two of which narrowly missed the victim’s heart, and one which pierced his liver. He was rushed to the hospital where he required surgery for multiple serious stab wounds.
During the fight, Gondurak-Courtoreille also stabbed a relative who was trying to break up the fight and separate the two combatants. He had to be treated at the hospital for two knife wounds to one of his legs.
Gondurak-Courtoreille also sustained a knife wound to one of his hands, and was taken to the hospital where he was eventually arrested and admitted he had a knife and swung it around during the altercation.
In addition to his jail sentence, Gondurak-Courtoreille will be on probation for two years following his release from custody. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
-3
