Assault leads to fine and probation
In Taber provincial court on July 20, a former Vauxhall man pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon. Jang Soo Park, now of Smoky Lake, was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and one year of probation by Judge D.G. Redman. Further counts of assault and uttering threats to cause death were withdrawn by the Crown.
Crown prosecutor Richard Paziuk explained the facts of the case to the court. On May 24, officers of the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP detachment responded to a complaint of an assault that had occurred previously at a residence in Vauxhall. The female complainant had informed police the accused had physically assaulted her the night before, on May 23.
Upon arrival at the residence, officers spoke with the victim, and observed injuries she had sustained during the course of the attack by the accused, which included a swollen and bruised wrist. Further investigation revealed on the night in question the accused and the female victim had become engaged in a verbal altercation over a bag of clothing. The argument eventually deteriorated into a physical assault perpetrated by the accused.
During the course of this incident, the accused had slapped the victim, who responded by throwing a child’s wooden chair in his direction. Park picked up the chair and struck the victim with it.
The accused had then sat on the victim to restrict her movement and proceeded to strike her with a powdered milk tin. At this point, the accused exited the room and returned with the steel legs of an ironing board and proceeded to strike the victim with this weapon. The victim was eventually able to extricate herself from the accused. The following morning, the victim had contacted police. After informing the accused of this, Park again became enraged and began smashing bottles within the store operated by the accused and the female victim.
The accused was arrested at the scene and charged accordingly. Paziuk noted the accused had been polite and co-operative with officers throughout, and that despite the relative violence of the assault, the victim had sustained only minor injuries.
Park had no previous criminal record. Judge Redman also ordered the accused attend for assessment, treatment and counselling for anger management, domestic violence and interpersonal issues. Park will be subject to a 10-year weapons prohibition, and will be required to submit a sample of his DNA to the National DNA Data Bank.
Restitution to be paid for damages
In Taber provincial court on July 20, a 33-year-old local man pleaded guilty to break and enter with intent. Rodney Vance Barry was sentenced to a $500 fine, one year of probation, and $683.43 in restitution for damages, by Judge D.G. Redman. Barry was originally scheduled to stand trial, but changed his plea to guilty.
Crown prosecutor Richard Paziuk explained the facts of the case to the court. On Jan. 5, officers of the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP detachment responded to a complaint of a break-in at the Vauxhall Recreation Complex. The caretaker had noticed damage to the door, and had contacted the complex concession owner, who contacted police.
The door on the south side of the complex had been pried open, and the locked shutter-type concession door in the interior of the building had also been forced.
A litany of foodstuffs had been removed from this location, while a bag that was recovered filled with sporting items and curling items was left behind by the accused.
Also located at the scene by officers was a prescription medication container bearing the name of a female acquaintance of the accused, while exterior video footage of the building had shown a person fitting the description of the accused, including distinctive footwear, squatting outside the door on the night in question.
However, the accused could not be positively identified beyond a reasonable doubt in the video footage. Barry was taken into custody, and during interrogation acknowledged “certain things,” according to Paziuk, although he stopped short of fully admitting culpability for the crime. The accused was charged accordingly.
Paziuk admitted the evidence in the case against Barry was not entirely convincing.
“The Crown’s case is largely circumstantial,” said Paziuk.
Barry had been previously convicted of obstructing a peace officer in 2006, possession of stolen property in 2007, mischief, possession of stolen property and four counts of break and enter with intent in 2008 and breach of probation in 2009. The accused was also ordered to attend counselling for life skills. No victim-fine surcharge was issued.