Steel-toed boots assault gets woman cell time

A 38-year-old woman received a one-year jail sentence in territorial court this morning after she pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm and one count of breaching a recognizance.

A 38-year-old woman received a one-year jail sentence in territorial court this morning after she pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm and one count of breaching a recognizance.

Sheila Currie was arrested and charged on July 14, 2007, after a violent incident involving her 19-year-old son and the 31-year-old male complainant in the case.

Currie was at her home when she heard a commotion outside, said Crown counsel Eric Marcoux.

When she went outside to see what was causing the disturbance, she saw the complainant and her son, Terry, in a fight.

Currie intervened and she and her son were soon both punching and kicking the complainant.

Currie kicked him in the head twice while wearing steel-toed boots, and Terry threw a rock at the complainant during the altercation, court heard.

The complainant was in “very bad shape” and had to be medevaced to Vancouver for surgery following the assault, said Marcoux.

The complainant’s jaw was broken in two places, and a metal plate had to be placed in his palate, court heard.

Currie was released on a recognizance after being charged in relation to the incident but was remanded into custody on April 12, 2008, after a second assault involving an underage female.

The two got into a “drunken argument,“ as described by Judge John Faulkner in his decision.

Currie assaulted the younger female with a bottle, resulting in a large “goose-egg” on the girl’s forehead, said Marcoux.

Marcoux and defence counsel David Christie made a joint submission and asked for 12 months’ incarceration for the assault last summer, a 30-day consecutive sentence for the assault on the young female, and a 30-day concurrent sentence for the breach of recognizance.

Currie was given credit for the 20 days she has been in custody since the second assault took place.

Marcoux noted in his submission that Currie has a “very limited criminal record.“

Currie has been taking medication to counteract the effects of alcohol withdrawal while in jail, court heard, and has been experiencing seizures.

Christie said in his submission that Currie “feels awful” about the assaults.

Faulkner did not dispute the joint submission and also ordered a 10-year firearms prohibition and a DNA order.

Terry Currie received a 10-month jail sentence and two years’ probation in territorial court in March in relation to the assault.