Violent assault that left victim permanently disabled nets two year sentence

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 21, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A 54-year-old Lethbridge man who previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm, was sentenced to two years in custody Wednesday.

The matter for William Charles Coward, son of retired Lethbridge Judge Fred Coward, was in provincial court Wednesday for sentencing.

The accused pleaded guilty last April and agreed to the allegations described by the Crown.

Lethbridge police received a complaint about 6:30 p.m. on July 9, 2021 from a man who said he had been assaulted the night before. The victim said he and Coward, whom he described as an “old time” friend, had been drinking, smoking weed and consuming mushrooms together. The two had an enjoyable visit and never argued or became angry, and after visiting for a while Coward said goodbye and left on a bicycle.

While the victim was listening to music following his friend’s departure, Coward returned to the residence and began hitting his victim in the face with a bicycle lock that was still attached to the end of a chain. The victim received stitches to his left eye, and was told by the doctors that he may never see again.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Fox advised the court Wednesday that after reviewing two cases similar to the one in front of the court, he was satisfied with the joint submission of a two-year sentence.

“I am satisfied that on a guilty plea, the two-year sentence that we’re proposing to this court is within the range. The two-year sentence will be followed by one year probation. It is a primary designated offence and therefore DNA orders must flow from this, and as it is indictable with violence, a section 109 firearms prohibition for 10 years,” said Fox.

Fox told the court that the victim asked him to excuse his presence as he found it to be too upsetting to be in the court with the accused.

Fox explained the victim had to undergo three surgeries on his eye and has been told by his doctor in the most recent check-up that the degree of sight loss in that eye is permanent.

“It’s not total sight loss, he sees blurs. The problem being is that this is his left eye, his right eye he was born with a condition called amblyopia and effectively prevents his eyes from fully focusing, so he was very much left-eye-dominant as he functioned,” said Fox.

He said that now as a result the victim is permanently disabled.

Fox indicated that the victim asked the court to prevent Coward from contacting him while he is incarcerated.

Lethbridge Lawyer Darcy Shurtz spoke on behalf of his client and indicated that at the time of the guilty plea his client was unaware of the extent of the damage caused to the victim’s eye and once he found out he showed even more regret than when he entered his guilty plea.

Judge Grace Auger accepted the joint submission Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court.

“I’ve heard both counsel and I believe that the joint submission is reasonable given all the information and all the bodily harm and it is a sad situation that two friends end up this way,” said Auger.

Coward was sentenced to two years in custody, followed by one year of probation, with a 10 year firearm prohibition.

Once released he is not to have any contact with the victim and during the probation period he needs to attend counselling for addictions and anger management.

-with files from Delon Shurtz

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