By Keith Lacey
A repeat violent offender who beat another man senseless with a metal pipe over a $140 drug debt was sentenced to 30 months in a federal penitentiary Wednesday.
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Justice John Poupore of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice said Jamie DumaisÂ? brutal violence demands a penitentiary term be meted out. Poupore warned the accused would likely spend most of the rest of his life behind bars unless he makes a concerted effort to turn his life around.
On April 29, Poupore found Dumais, 21, guilty of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, extortion, possession of a weapon and breach of a court order to not possess any prohibited weapon following a week-long trial in late April. The attack took place the evening of Jan. 17, 2001.
Dumais decided to defend himself at trial after firing several lawyers.
Â?These were crimes committed for no other reason than for moneyÂ?and to inflict pain and suffering on another personÂ?for a drug debt,Â? said an obviously upset Poupore. Â?This accused has few, if any, redeeming features.Â?
Court heard at trial that Dumais and a friend visited the apartment of a Minnow Lake man and demanded he turn over $140 they felt he owed them for a drug debt.
Seconds after the man offered to feed them some pork chops, Dumais pulled out a metal pipe and proceeded to hit his victim 20 times in the head, arms and upper torso.
Dumais was originally charged with attempted murder.
Assistant Crown attorney Len Walker told the court Wednesday that this was a vicious crime that involved a serious, prolonged beating and it was only through good luck the victim wasnÂ?t more seriously injured.
The victim suffered serious head injuries and there was large amount of blood found throughout the apartment, said Walker.
Â?Quite frankly, this was worse than many homicide scenes,Â? said Walker.
After praising Dumais for doing a good job representing himself at trial, Poupore lashed into him for his long and serious record.
Poupore went through DumaisÂ? Â?horrificÂ? record, that includes numerous property offences, crimes of violence, alcohol abuse and numerous breaches of court orders.
After reading four letters of support from family members and friends, Poupore turned to members of DumaisÂ? family and other supporters and told them it was time they recognize just how violent and dangerous the accused has become.
Â?He is a violent person and not a person you would like to come into contact with unless you know him,Â? said Poupore.
This was a brutally violent attack in a private residence and society canÂ?t and wonÂ?t condone such attacks, said Poupore.
Â?That kind of behaviour canÂ?t be accepted in a free, safe and democratic society,Â? he said. Â?Society canÂ?t function with people like this walking among us.Â?
Poupore said he hopes Dumais will access much-needed professional help in the penitentiary and get help for an obvious alcohol abuse problem and inability to control his temper.
Walker said DumaisÂ? polite demeanor when defending himself at trial indicates to him thereÂ?s a possibility Dumais is capable of turning his life around after this sentence has expired.
However, DumaisÂ? lack of remorse and the extreme violence involved against a defenceless victim over such a small amount of money makes it clear Dumais must be punished harshly, said Walker.
Society at large must know that crimes of extreme violence meted out in the sanctity of oneÂ?s own home will not be taken lightly, said Walker.
Natalie Boivin, who was hired by Dumais for the sentencing hearing, agreed the aggravating factors in this case far outweigh any mitigating factors.
However, the court must not forget Dumais is still a young man and admits to an alcohol problem he wants to address, she said.
Dumais has served six months in pre-trial custody and a further sentence of 30 months is appropriate, Boivin said.
After Poupore imposed the 30-month sentence and four concurrent six-month sentences on the other charges, a member of DumaisÂ? family collapsed and cried out that the sentence was unfair.
When it was explained to her that concurrent sentences are served at the same time as the longest sentence, the woman regained her composure.
Another Dumais supporter told members of the media that
the sentence imposed was grossly unfair.
