CLARENVILLE, NL— Michael Norman, 44, was sentenced to 44 months’ incarceration for the violent stabbing of another man in Clarenville on April 30, 2016.
Norman was convicted on Jan. 4, 2018 for stabbing another man six times— four times in the abdomen and twice on the left hand— on the parking lot of Hawthrone Manor on Moores Road in Clarenville.
Crown prosecutor Danny Vavasour referred to the assault as both violent and unprovoked.
Judge Paul Noble handed down the sentence on Wednesday, March 14, a week after hearing submissions from both Vavasour and defense lawyer Rhona Buchan.
Vavasour had proposed a five-year sentence, while Buchan proposed three to four years’ incarceration.
Noble told the court he took various factors into account when handing down the sentence, including the seriousness of the offense, the objectively unprovoked nature of the attack, the physical and psychological wounds inflicted on the victim, Norman’s criminal record, and also his apparent regret.
In addition to the 44 months’ incarceration, Norman will be subject to a DNA order, a 10-year weapons prohibition order, a victim surfeit charge, and restitution valued at $314 to replace the victim’s clothing, which was bled on during the stabbing.
At the time of sentencing, Norman had served 73 days in custody which, credited at one and a half days, equals 110 days of remand credit.
Judge Noble encouraged Norman to take advantage of any programs or counseling made available to him during his incarceration.
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