The 21-year-old was attacked after attempting to get people to leave a party a younger relative was having at the home in March 2016. He was beaten and stabbed several times, according to the province’s chief medical examiner, who says the young man lost three litres of blood and could have died.
Robert Mills, 24, was in provincial court in St. John’s Wednesday morning for Day 2 of his sentencing hearing, having pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and weapons charges in connection with the attack. He has admitted to using brass knuckles to beat the victim and there’s no evidence he was responsible for the stabbing. A knife bearing the victim’s DNA was recovered near the scene.
Mills wasn’t the only one charged in connection with the attack: four teenagers, who can’t be named because of their young age, have pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault charges.
Mills told the court he wanted to apologize to the victim and his family as well as his own. His lawyer, Sandi MacKinnon, told the court Mills wanted to write letters of apology to the victim and his family, who weren’t in the courtroom.
The family is hesitant to believe his remorse.
“It’s very hard to trust his sincerity given his lack of co-operation when put on the stand,” the victim’s mother told The Telegram this afternoon (Wednesday), referring to a previous court appearance, when Mills testified but made it clear he wasn’t interested in being there. Mills also said at that time he lied to police when giving them a statement after the attack.
“I’m done,” he told the court at one point, leaning back in the prisoner’s box. “I’m not answering any more questions. … You’ve already charged me. … You can add another charge if you want. I don’t really care.”
The victim’s mother said she hopes Mills’ apology is genuine all the same, and hopes Mills gets the help he needs.
“I just want to put this all behind us so my family and I can move on,” she said.
MacKinnon asked Judge Jim Walsh to sentence Mills to two years in prison with a subsequent probation term of two to three years, adding he hopes to get counselling for anger and addictions issues.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Ivany is asking for a jail term of five to seven years. Walsh will hand down his sentence July 19.
The victim spent time in hospital in serious conditions but is now doing well.
“He has physically recovered, yes,” his mother said. “But left with extensive scarring, which is so sad for a guy his age.”
Twitter: tara_bradbury
