Hockey star's sentencing delayed
Colten de Frias will have to wait until next month to be sentenced after being convicted last year of assault causing bodily harm.
The Thompson Rivers University hockey player was to have been sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 17; however, Judge Chris Cleavely said he had not expected submissions from Crown and defence lawyers to take two hours and he needed to move forward with the court docket.
Cleavely added he would need time to review written submissions from Crown counsel Katie Bouchard and defence lawyer Ken Walker.
Submissions from both lawyers on an appropriate sentence hinged on de Frias paying medical expenses for Andrew Giddens, the man de Frias assaulted.
During a two-day trial in October, court heard de Frias punched then-20-year-old Giddens twice in the face in a Victoria Street parking lot, breaking the man's jaw, splitting his lip open and causing damage to four teeth.
The altercation took place on Oct. 23, 2011.
The expenses, including those already paid and an estimate for dental implants, is $30,000, Bouchard told the court.
If de Frias, a first-year TRU student, is unable to pay that amount, some jail time would be required, she told the court.
Walker questioned the dollar value and noted he had not received the estimate until the beginning of the week and had not had time to review it.
Cleavely offered to adjourn the case to give Walker more time to discuss the amount with his client, but Walker declined.
In arguing for a conditional discharge, Walker presented several letters of reference for de Frias praising his character, natural leadership abilities, trustworthiness and determination to become an RCMP officer.
Walker told the court the assault involved two punches and was out of character for de Frias.
At the time of the trial, de Frias was the leading scorer for the junior B Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Walker told the court his client's on-ice ability has drawn interest from Arizona State University.
De Frias told Cleavely he is sorry for the assault and the impact it has left on Giddens and his family.
In adjourning the matter, Cleavely noted he will be unavailable until mid-February.
The WolfPack play in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League, a six-team circuit that includes the Eastern Washington University Eagles, who play in Cheney, Wash.
De Frias' conviction may have an impact on his ability to travel with the team.
Christopher Seguin, TRU's vice-president of advancement, said he would have no comment on de Frias' future with the team until sentencing.
COMMENTS
Let's keep comments:
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters.
We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.