Lighter sentence for men who committed assault after racial slurs thrown their way
By Peggy Revell on November 9, 2017.
prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell A judge sided with defence counsel for the sentencing of two brothers involved in a barroom brawl spurred in part by racist slurs hurled in their direction. Joseph Cadotte was given a two-year suspended sentence Wednesday, while Raymond Cadotte received a 90-day sentence that will be served intermittently, after both pled guilty to assault causing bodily harm. At an Oct. 11 sentencing hearing, defence counsel for both men argued for those sentences — while the Crown requested a 90-day and four-to-six-month sentence respectively, plus probation. The barroom brawl occurred shortly after midnight in Oct. 2015, when an argument dovetailed into a fight between Joseph and another man. Joseph put the man in a headlock, took him to the ground and struck him twice in the face. The same man later yelled what the Crown described as “horribly offensive racist remarks” toward the Cadottes, who are aboriginal. Joseph once again got into a fight with the man. When the man’s friend attempted to intervene, Raymond also joined the fray. Both men were injured in the fight. A Gladue report and presentencing report were put together, touching upon the racism the brothers had experienced — including being the target of racial slurs throughout their life. The reports also noted how both men are hardworking, and are remorseful for their actions and know they should have reacted differently. 9
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