Kirk Rudolph was sentenced Wednesday at Swift Current Provincial Court. (CJME Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Prince Albert man receives eight year prison sentence following 2017 trailer fire at Sask. regional park

Jul 22, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic details

A man who poured kerosene on his common law partner and burned down the trailer where they lived, has received an eight year prison sentence.

Kirk Rudolph, a 51-year-old from Prince Albert, was originally charged with attempted murder, but entered a guilty plea to the lesser offence of aggravated assault during a hearing Wednesday at Swift Current Provincial court.

The incident happened in October 2017 at Lemsford Ferry Regional Park. Crown lawyer Greg Lee told paNOW the exact motive for Rudolph’s actions remains unclear, adding there was no evidence of domestic violence against the woman before the incident.

“Even when the victim asked him why he did it, he said I don’t know”,” Lee said.

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According to the facts read in court by Lee on Wednesday, Rudolph came to the trailer carrying a jug of kerosene and proceeded to stab holes in the container, before spilling the flammable liquid on the floor and on his partner.

Rudolph then starting throwing matches but the victim managed to stomp them all out. Rudolph lit a fourth match, but showing a change of heart, told her to put it out before walking outside.This time however the match lit and the fire quickly spread up her pant leg and across the trailer.

“Rudolph actually ran back inside the house and tried to save her”, Lee explained, adding Rudolph proceeded to dump water on the woman, who was by this time in extreme pain.

Rudolph took her to the hospital and while en route said he loved her and did not mean to do this. He then convinced her that they should come up with a story to tell police, that the whole incident was simply an accident—she had a cigarette and tripped.

The victim was airlifted by STARS air ambulance to hospital in Edmonton and was in a coma for two weeks. She remained in medical care from the day of the incident to April 6, 2018, undergoing numerous surgical procedures and blood transfusions

“Over 60 per cent of her body had third degree burns on it,” Lee said.

The following year the victim told police what really happened. The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit South (MCU-S) then took carriage of the investigation and gathered the evidence required to lay charges. Charges were laid in February 2021, and Rudolph was arrested in Whitehorse. He was transported back to Saskatchewan two days later and made his first court appearance in Regina on Feb. 22.

The joint submission presented to the judge represents the higher end of sentencing for an aggravated assault charge. Rudolph must also submit a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning any type of firearm for life.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell