Richard Jutras, 38, received a suspended sentence and 18 months? probation after pleading guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice earlier this week to assault causing bodily harm, threatening and arson causing property damage.
The Valley East man was arrested July 13, 2003 after he attacked his wife while in a rage. The couple?s two children were in the home at the time of the assault.
A statement of facts presented in court on Wednesday detailed how Jutras broke down a bathroom door to get to his wife after she had locked herself in. Jutras then hit the woman, threw her across the room and continued to chase after her as she tried to escape the house with their two children.
As the woman and children were pulling away from the home in a vehicle, Jutras came out of the house carrying bags of the woman?s clothing. He proceeded to set them on fire after dousing the bags with gasoline.
The woman received significant injury during the attack. Photos showing her bruised face and body were shown in court.
After accepting a joint submission from the Crown and defence, Justice Guy Mahaffy agreed to probation for Jutras instead of jail time. Jutras must attend domestic violence counselling as part of his probation and avoid contact with his former spouse.
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