Sentencing is now complete for four young men who viciously beat another man last April.
Cameron Coles, 26, was sentenced in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday to 18 months in jail, minus 290 days he has already been in custody, after pleading guilty for his role in an attack at the front entry of a downtown apartment building shortly before 11:30 p.m. on April 9, 2012.
Coles appeared agitated, scowling and rocking back and forth in his chair in the prisoner’s box as defence counsel Paul Morigeau and Crown prosecutor Tony Bell discussed the attack, which was captured by video cameras in the building’s lobby.
Morigeau said he and Bell reviewed the video numerous times in the last three weeks, during which he could see that the victim was armed with a knife and was trying to fight back.
It is clear from the videos that the most serious injuries were caused by co-accused, Joshua Severin, who was previously sentenced to two years for aggravated assault, said Morigeau.
Coles pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault causing bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Tony Bell acknowledged that while Coles struck the man from behind with the machete, it was Severin, 19, who delivered the more severe injuries, including cutting a nerve in the victim’s face.
Also sentenced earlier after pleading guilty were Victor Bricker and Morgan Riley, 20 and 18, at the time of the attack.
Bricker was sentenced to two years for aggravated assault.
Riley received time served for common assault.
Court heard at the time that he was part of the group but was not an active participant in the beating.
Judge Darrell Riemer ordered that Coles serve 255 more days in jail and submit a sample of his DNA.
Coles is also prohibited from owning firearms or other dangerous weapons for 10 years after his release.