David Wesley Bobbitt leaving the Penticton courthouse in June, 2014.
Image Credit: Global Okanagan (with permission)
February 19, 2015 - 2:33 PM
KELOWNA – Reckless, self-serving, grandiose, entitled, antisocial, narcissistic, lacking in empathy, sexually sadistic, psychopathic and violent. Those are some of the words the Crown used to describe David Wesley Bobbitt in a hearing to determine if he deserves dangerous offender status.
Bobbitt, 39, has already pleaded guilty to seven charges, but before Justice Peter Rogers can sentence him, it must be determined whether or not he deserves a special classification reserved for those who pose a significant risk to others.
In 2011 Bobbitt raped a 22-year-old woman who came into his Penticton store with her young son to buy a trundle bed. Crown lawyer Debra Drissell says he tied her up, raped her repeatedly and assaulted her with a hammer while her two-year-old child watched.
“One can hardly imagine a more horrific assault.” she said. “There is absolutely no remorse.”
In Kelowna Supreme Court Thursday, the hearing played out more like a trial with Drissell painting Bobbitt as a violent man unwilling to take responsibility for his actions. Crown is asking he be held indeterminately, meaning he would remain in prison until deemed fit for release.
During the hearing, which began June 23, the Crown has called numerous witnesses, including police, doctors and ex-girlfriends.
Much time was devoted to testimony given by a forensic psychologist who interviewed Bobbitt twice while he was in custody. During those interviews Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe found Bobbitt to be delusional with no attachments to reality and a “strong psychopathic quality.”
“Mr. Bobbitt immediately started talking about what a good person he is,” Lohrasbe said. “That he was a completely nonviolent individual. He was focused on that. He wanted to portray himself as flawless.
“I see the obstacles (to treatment) as huge with this man, and I see him as not at all ready. I have no reason for optimism.”
An RCMP constable who also testified said Bobbitt could become enraged within seconds. He assessed the threat he posed to other prisoners as being as high as with anyone he’d ever seen.
If labeled a dangerous offender Bobbitt could receive an indeterminate sentence but if not Crown are asking for 19 to 23 years in prison followed by ten years’ probation.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015