Man who stabbed, bit off victim’s ear, receives 35-month sentence

According to facts read by Crown Prosecutor Wyatt Bernier, the two men lived in the same building. Before the attack, Laliberte accused the victim of stealing a phone and cigarettes.

Armed with a knife, he later attacked the victim, slashing his face and neck multiple times, before stabbing him in the chest.

A witness who observed the altercation said she saw Laliberte push the victim to the floor and attempt to cut his neck with a butcher knife.

“Stating you are going to die,” Bernier read.

When the knife broke, Laliberte leaned forward and bit off a chunk of the victim’s ear. He then spit it out and that’s when the witness called 9-1-1.

Laliberte fled and while still covered in blood, was located and arrested at 19th Ave. and Fifth Street East. He appeared intoxicated and was crying.

“He responded to the officer stating ‘Just put me in jail, I deserve this. Yes, I’m sorry.'”

Upon going to the residence, officers found blood on the walls and floor, both in the living room as well as the hallways and laundry room.

In his statement to police, Laliberte claimed he blacked out.

The victim of the assault told the judge he continues to suffer emotional trauma, has a hard time looking people in the face and is “woken up after dreams of being mauled.”

Stating he has no idea why this happened, did nothing to provoke and had only seen Laliberte eight to nine times, the victim added his daughter is frightened by the scars on his face.

“I didn’t deserve what happened to me.”

“I really hope he can get some kind of help where he understands what he did.”

Prior to this conviction, Laliberte had a very limited criminal record and no history of violence. Bernier explained the typical range of sentencing in this situation is between two and four years.

Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said Laliberte has endured intergenerational trauma, losing both his father to suicide and his mother to lifestyle choices. Both attended residential schools.

Growing up he was bounced around between 24 foster homes and suffered physical and sexual abuse. At the age of 14 he began using substances and as a result of his drinking has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

“He does realize this is a life or death situation for him to stop using substances,” Pfefferle said.

When provide the opportunity to speak, Laliberte apologized to all the people he has hurt and explained after the breakdown of a personal relationship, he began drinking and ignored warnings from friends that it was getting worse.

“I didn’t believe them because I thought I had a handle on it, but then the blackouts started to happen,” he said.

Insisting he is a good person in nature, Laliberte said he enjoys volunteering and helping foster kids.

“Because nobody was there for me,” he said, breaking down in tears.

Laliberte, who plans to leave Prince Albert when he is released, promised to never drink alcohol again.

“I hope sometime in your life you have it in your heart to forgive,” he told the victim.

Accepting the joint submission that was presented Judge McAuley stated the situation could very well have become a manslaughter, and she applauded the victim for having the courage to come forward.

“I can’t even imagine all the things you’ve gone through,” she said.

In addition to the aggravated assault charge, Laliberte also took responsibility for two other incidents that involved assaulting both a peace officer and a taxi driver, and breaching release conditions. All occurred while he was highly intoxicated.

His total sentence amounts to three years but with credit for time spent on remand, he has about two years left to serve and will then be probation for another two years.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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by Nigel Maxwell

Man who stabbed, bit off victim’s ear, receives 35-month sentence

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