Court of Queen's Bench. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

violent crime

Woman who bit victim’s nose receives jail sentence

Jul 3, 2019 | 4:57 PM

A woman who bit off the tip of her victim’s nose during a fight, sobbed uncontrollably in the prisoner’s box during her sentencing hearing Wednesday at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench. She will serve one year in jail.

Joan McKenzie, 40, was found guilty to a charge of aggravated assault at the conclusion of her trial last March. The incident dates back September, 2017, during a house party in Stanley Mission. The victim Kendra Wesley was present for the hearing Wednesday and told paNOW she was not entirely satisfied with the sentence.

“I don’t know what kind of person would do that to another human being,” she said outside of court.

After leaving jail, McKenzie will be on probation for two years and must abide by a number of conditions including a curfew.

“We do have to send a message that even drunken brawls can degenerate into biting people.” – Crown lawyer Aaron Martens

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Prior to rendering her decision, Judge M.L. Dovell said she took into consideration the fact that while McKenzie had a history of violence, she had not committed any criminal act for 17 years. Dovell also acknowledged McKenzie’s educational accomplishments with a Bachelor of Education degree, and was also close to completing her Bachelor of Arts. Dovell also reviewed a written apology McKenzie sent to her victim.

Wesley recalled the two initially had a short physical confrontation.

“She wanted to apologize and hug it out and that’s what I assumed she wanted to do but she had other intentions,” she said adding moments later McKenzie lunged at her face.

Wesley who is now pursuing a degree in business administration is scheduled to have her third and final nose operation this month.

“It was like counselling for me to go to school and be around people and just not hide in my room all the time. I’ve come a long way from where I was two years ago,” she said.

The Crown was seeking a sentence of 18-24 months plus two years probation, while defence lawyer Crystal Eninew asked for a sentence of six months and three years’ probation. While disappointed with the final outcome of the case, Eninew said she thought the sentence was fair.

“My client showed she had a lot of remorse and she is accepting that responsibility,’ she said, adding her client took it upon herself to write the apology letter.

“It’s affected her life, it’s affected her family and she’s taken a lot of time to think about that,” she said.

Crown prosecutor Aaron Martens said he also thought the sentence was fair, and added he did not expect there to be an appeal.

“Nothing that happens in court is going to make the victim any better or any worse but we do have to send a message that even drunken brawls can degenerate into biting people,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell