CARLYLE — A southeast Saskatchewan man has received a five-year prison sentence in connection with an incident that occurred late last year.
Brian Paul David Wade pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault on Oct. 1 in Carlyle Provincial Court. He had been charged with one count of attempted murder, for which he pleaded not guilty, and that charge was stayed after Wade pleaded guilty to the lesser offence.
Another charge of violating the terms of a release order, stemming from a previous conviction, was stayed.
As per the terms of a joint submission from the Crown and defence attorneys, which prosecutor Peter White called a “true quid pro quo agreement”, Wade received an 1,826-day sentence, retroactive to Aug. 12 when the plea deal was reached. Wade was on remand for 50 days from Aug. 12-Oct. 1, so was given 75 days credit on his sentence, which means he had 1,751 days remaining effective Oct. 1.
“This plea is entered into because both the Crown and defence understand the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, and this plea also saves the victim and her daughters from having to testify at trial,” White said.
According to White, on Dec. 26, 2024, members of the Carlyle RCMP were called to a residence in the community in Forget, after an argument between Wade and the victim. The accused kicked the victim in the head two or three times, White said, and used a kitchen knife to stab the victim multiple times.
“These acts of violence towards the victim were witnessed by her daughters,” said White.
After the attack, the accused took the victim’s coat and held it against her neck in an attempt to stop the bleeding, White said, and he added the accused called 911. The victims’ daughters fled to the neighbours and called 911.
“They had to walk through their mother’s blood on the floor and thought she was dead,” said White.
Paramedics rushed the victim to a hospital and from there, she was sent to the Regina General Hospital for emergency surgery due to her injuries.
“Medical staff indicated that one stab wound missed her carotid artery by less than four millimetres,” said White.
The victim and one of her daughters provided victim impact statements that were read out to the court during sentencing.
Wade is originally from Ontario and moved to southeast Saskatchewan a few years ago. His defence attorney Aleida Oberholzer said Wade acknowledges responsibility for his actions. She also noted Wade has a documented history of psychiatric illness, but wants to get help, take mental health programming and engage in anything that the doctors think is best for him to move forward.
“He expressed immediate and ongoing remorse, he sought to render first aid to the victim … and called 911 himself,” said Oberholzer.
The five-year sentence would serve the principles of denunciation and deterrence, Oberholzer said, and it would open a path for rehabilitation and public protection.
When given a chance by Judge Mitch Miller to speak, Wade apologized to the victim for his actions and said he realizes he messed up. He also apologized to his family, who he said has been through a lot with him over the years.
Miller said he is bound by the Supreme Court of Canada to basically accept the joint submission. He reviewed it and found some troubling aspects about it, including Wade’s six prior convictions for assault, including one for assaulting a police officer that resulted in a jail sentence.
“There is a history of violence as noted on the record,” said Miller.
The judge also noted significant background issues regarding Wade, including socio and psychiatric health.
He also voiced concern with the impact the attack would have had on the victim’s children.
It might not be the sentence he would have imposed without the joint submission, but it’s within the range for the incident, Miller said, and he accepted the sentence.
