BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
A Coniston man who Â?snappedÂ? and attacked his common-law wife with a knife, and who was shot at by police after he attacked two officers, has been sent to a federal penitentiary.
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In an emotional sentencing hearing Thursday at the Sudbury courthouse, Kelly Dussome, 39, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his common-law wife, aggravated assault against two police officers, theft, break and enter, mischief and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Described as a Â?wonderful fatherÂ? and Â?the love of my lifeÂ? by the woman he attacked, Dussome was sentenced to 30 months in a federal penitentiary by Justice Yvon Renaud.
Dussome was diagnosed as a man suffering from a personality disorder as well as an adjustment disorder. He was also dependent on alcohol and marijuana when he snapped and engaged on a wild crime spree the evening of March 21.
Court heard Dussome, 39, snapped and attacked his wife with a kitchen knife after a domestic argument.
Dussome held the knife to her throat, causing a small cut, and then to her head, causing another cut just above her ear, that would later require eight stitches.
As she struggled to free herself, she received more wounds to her abdomen and chest.
During the struggle, Dussome managed to inflict a severe wound to one of his wrists.
DussomeÂ?s common-law wife then managed to call 911. Dussome fled the scene on foot, and it was the last time she saw him.
Dussome went to his workplace, located just down the road, and stole a five-ton truck and bolted down Highway 17 East.
At 9:43 pm, OPP received a frantic call from a woman living on Nepewassi Lake Road in Markstay informing them of a man driving a large truck ramming her house. While she was on the phone, Dussome rammed the house again.
Four minutes later, OPP received another call from another woman reporting that a man driving a large truck had just broken into her home and kidnapped her dog.
Dussome had gone into the house, covered in blood and shoeless and demanded boots, preferably size 12. Dussome then wanted the terrified woman to go with him, but she refused and managed to lock him and her dog outside. Dussome then left with the dog.
By this time, two OPP officers had been dispatched to Nepewassi Lake Road.
Ten minutes later, OPP received yet another call from another woman on the road about a man driving a large truck who had just rammed three cars in her driveway.
Dussome had tried to drive the truck into her house, but a slight, icy incline prevented him from doing so. He prepared for a second run, but the womanÂ?s husband threw a snowball at the driverÂ?s side window and got DussomeÂ?s attention. The husband then pointed a rifle at Dussome.
Dussome left, but not before honking the truckÂ?s horn a couple of times.
Just after 10 pm, the two OPP officers caught up to Dussome in the truck.
Officers yelled at Dussome to exit the vehicle, but he refused and drove straight at them. The two officers, fearing for their lives, drew their service pistols and opened fire.
Several bullets struck the truck and it veered into the ditch. Dussome was taken into custody.
After his arrest, Dussome was sent to the North Bay Psychiatric hospital, where he was diagnosed as having a personality disorder, adjustment disorder, and a dependence on alcohol and marijuana.
Defence counsel Herve Sauve said his client wanted to plead guilty in large part so his common-law wife wouldnÂ?t have to endure the trauma of having to testify at trial.
The court then heard two victim-impact statements, including one from the common-law wife.
In tears, she said she had lost her Â?soulmate and best friendÂ? and their son had lost his father. She also said there was more good in Dussome than bad
and she Â?prayed he would get the help he so desperately needsÂ? for his problems.
She also stated Dussome was a good father, who always found time to play with their son.
As she read her statement, tears flowed from DussomeÂ?s eyes and down his cheeks.
Sauve asked the court to impose a jail sentence of two years.
Assistant Crown attorney Roberta Bald asked for three to four years in jail, plus several other conditions.
Following his arrest, Dussome told police Â?I just snapped. I donÂ?t know what would make a person just snap,Â? said Bald.
While the Crown does acknowledge the psychological and substance abuse problems Dussome was suffering from at the time, Dussome must pay a
severe penalty as he was involved in numerous serious crimes the evening in question, she said.
On top of the 30-month sentence, Renaud recommended Dussome get treatment and counselling for his alcohol, drug and domestic violence problems and go for further psychological testing.
He is also prohibited from driving anywhere in Canada for two years after heÂ?s released from prison, banned from owning or possessing any prohibited weapon or firearm for 10 years and ordered he provide a DNA sample for a national crime data bank.
Before being led away in handcuffs, Dussome managed to blow one last kiss to his highly emotional common-law wife.
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