(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
November 27, 2013 - 1:51 PM
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS BENEFICIAL
KAMLOOPS - A man who suffers from mental health problems and chased someone with a chainsaw over the summer will be in the hands of the justice system for the next five years, a judge ruled today.
Wyatt Proulx was sentenced to two additional years in prison and three years probation for an incident in Barriere, in August of this year.
"The sentence is neither lenient nor harsh," said Kamloops provincial court judge Len Marchand Jr. during his sentencing decision.
Proulx, 25, was at his uncle's home drinking, playing cards and antagonizing guests when he was told to leave. Instead, he turned on them with a chainsaw, chasing and scuffing one man and cutting a chair in two.
When police arrived, he denied his right to a lawyer and uttered several bizarre statements which were revealed in court on Monday.
Proulx pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon and not guilty to attempted murder.
Defence lawyer Murray Armstrong told the court Monday the incident was due to serious mental health problems, however a psychiatric report deemed him criminally responsible for his actions.
Marchand Jr. said today he considered Proulx's mental health issues and limits in moral culpability as well as public safety in his decision. He agreed to the sentence, a joint submission by Armstrong and Crown prosecutor Frank Caputo.
Two years means a federal prison sentence, which Marchand Jr. said would allow Proulx to take advantage of beneficial programming. He also made a recommendation for Proulx to serve at the Regional Treatment Centre in Abbotsford to get the most from services.
"(The sentence offers) the very best opportunity for treatment, support and rehabilitation," Marchand Jr. said.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2013