Sentencing adjourned for assault causing bodily harm
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on April 14, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A family member of a retired Lethbridge judge is set to be sentenced later this spring on one charge of assault causing bodily harm.William Charles Coward, 54, who is closely related to retired provincial court judge Fred Coward, pleaded guilty Wednesday to the charge, but won’t be sentenced until June 13.
Court was told Lethbridge police received a complaint about 6:30 p.m. on July 9, 2021 from a man who said he had been assaulted the night before. The victim said he and Coward, whom he described as an “old time” friend, had been drinking, smoking weed and consuming mushrooms together. The two had an enjoyable visit and never argued or became angry, and after visiting for a while Coward said goodbye and left on a bicycle.
While the victim was listening to music following his friend’s departure, Coward returned to the residence and began hitting his victim in the face with a bicycle lock that was still attached to the end of a chain.
“He described that he was hit many times in the face, and recalled begging for his life,” Crown Prosecutor Sheena Campbell said.
She said Coward then left the residence, and the victim woke up his roommate, who drove him to the hospital.
“He received stitches to his left eye, and was told by the doctors that he may never see again.”
In addition to the contusion and the stitches to repair the left eye, the man also received treatment in Calgary for “ongoing issues” with his eye, and surgery may have been necessary.
Coward was not sentenced Wednesday and the matter was adjourned for two months to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will provide Coward’s personal history and circumstances to help the judge determine a fit sentence. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
-3
