A man was sentenced to the equivalent of six years in the pen Monday for savagely beating a woman — including smothering her with his 280-lb. bulk and trying to rip off her jaw — because he thought she’d stolen his crack.
The woman was in a coma for 11 days.
Luc Valmore Joseph Pilon, 46, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in connection with the April 6, 2009, incident. He had been charged with attempted murder.
Judge Lise Maisonneuve said in French that when we refer to the damaging effects of drugs on society, this is what we’re talking about.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Pilon and Elaine Bruneau lived in the same Donald St. building and did crack together.
They’d been on a three-day, $3,000 binge when Pilon sent Bruneau to buy $200 more.
Captured on a lobby camera, both were obviously high, falling and struggling to get up. Pilon slapped and punched Bruneau, then searched for the drugs, which were in a baggie in her mouth.
He then punched the unconscious woman three dozen times, tried to rip off her lower jaw, smothered her with his body and straddled her to punch her face.
He then went home and smoked so much crack he went into a coma himself.
In a tearful apology, Pilon — who has no criminal record — said that he’s profoundly sorry and while the incident was drug-induced, he blames no one but himself.
Bruneau had part of her skull removed, suffered a broken jaw and teeth and underwent facial reconstruction surgery.
She struggles with everyday tasks, can’t sleep and battles anxiety. She still can’t feel one of her legs and her face will never look the same.
But she’s now drug free.
I think 6 years is too harsh for this man. Yes, he committed a horrible and violent act on this woman and she lives with the injuries everyday of her life, but drugs, are what fuelled this attack. This man was not thinking clearly or even consciously. He was heavily under the influence. He also has no prior criminal record, and expressed extreme remorse, which shows that he will likely not do this again. I think his drug problem needs to be addressed instead of sending him to prison. He should have been sentenced to 18 months provincial prison (to show denunciation for this act and specific deterrence) and 3 years probation where he should be required to complete drug rehabilitation programs and learn to engage in healthy activities and be surrounded by positive role models.
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