A younger man convicted within the hit-and-run demise of a Calgary police officer faces a excessive threat of reoffending if despatched to a federal jail, a forensic psychologist testified Friday.
The younger offender, who was 17 on the time, was discovered responsible of manslaughter within the demise of Sgt. Andrew Harnett on December 31, 2020.
Harnett died after being dragged by an SUV after which falling into the trail of an oncoming automotive.
The Crown needs the motive force of the SUV, who’s now 20, to be sentenced as an grownup and serve between 11 and 13 years in jail.
Liam Ennis, who’s an professional within the subject of violence threat administration and governance, was referred to as as a witness by the defence.
Ennis stated there are a lot of elements that may result in relapse, together with a tough childhood. He famous that the offender’s household fled from his abusive father when he was youthful and moved from shelter to shelter in a number of counties.
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“It was turbulent. It was ruthless, I might say,” Ennis stated. “An individual would get a threat level if he grew up in a house the place one of many organic dad and mom was not current.”
He stated the younger man had a historical past of eager to belong and being unduly influenced by peer stress, which started in his teenage years.
“He needs to be a part of the gang, however he is not. He will get rejected after which on the age of 13 or so he finds his tribe,” he stated.
“Sadly, the individuals he will get are already criminally inclined. They’re criminals.”
Ennis stated the offender, who had already frolicked in a youth offender centre, had proven some enchancment in behaviour.
“He is now getting his bucket full by way of his shallowness by pleasing the employees on the facility greater than he does to his friends,” Ennis stated.
“It confirms, not less than on the floor, that he’s strongly influenced by the social influences round him.”
Ennis stated the convicted younger man wanted schooling and job expertise that may allow him to carve out a spot for himself in standard society in order that he might be in a office surrounded by individuals “who aren’t out on the weekend to commit snatch and seize crimes. , who don’t exit and contain themselves in legal actions.”
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He worries that if he’s sentenced to a federal establishment, he’ll revert to his previous conduct and fall in with the flawed crowd.
“My threat evaluation says that he’s at excessive threat for future offending. The query is what’s the most probably path to decrease it,” Ennis added.
“I’ve a tough time seeing hope for constructive change if he goes by means of the grownup jail system.”
A choice on whether or not the younger man will probably be given an grownup sentence is anticipated on Might 10.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
