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Judge finds 'sexual bias' in assault

Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man who pleaded guilty to twice assaulting another man he called a "faggot" was fined $1,914 and given a year of probation Friday.

Corey Rosnawski, 19, will have to abide by a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for six months and perform 150 hours of community service as ordered by Judge Brian Bruser in Territorial Court last week. The fine is to be paid to the victim.

Bruser said Rosnawski's January assaults on the victim were "motivated by sexual bias."

The first assault occurred on Jan. 1 when Rosnawski punched the man because he thought he was making sexual advances towards him. He also broke windows in the home where the victim and his partner lived.

Bruser stated that even if the man was making sexual advances, "Your reaction was grossly disproportionate."

Rosnawski punched the same man again outside the Raven nightclub on Jan. 25. The effect on the victim and his partner had been traumatizing, according to Bruser. He said Rosnawski needed to learn to appreciate "other people for who they are and who they have the right to be."

Rosnawski, who has no prior criminal record, also faced sentencing for breaching the terms of his release. Defence attorney Hugh Latimer told the court that the roughly five to six weeks Rosnawski had spent in jail "has changed him to the point that where this is not going to happen again."

Rosnawski apologized to the court for his crimes. He said his five weeks behind bars felt more like five months.

"You have only yourself to blame for where you have ended up," said Bruser.

He gave a stern warning that if Rosnawski commits another offence it could land him in jail longer.

Bruser also added, "I think the public can be assured that a monster is not being released into the community. Mr. Rosnawski is anything but."