LEDUC — An Alberta man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for beating his girlfriend, dousing her with hairspray and setting her on fire.
Tyrell Ivan James Lee, who is 23, earlier pleaded guilty to the August attack in an apartment in Leduc, south of Edmonton.
Court heard that Lee spent more than an hour punching the 25-year woman then he tied her hands with clothing and cornered her in a bathroom.
He saturated her with the spray, then turned the aerosol can into a makeshift blowtorch.
The woman told police that after she burst into flames, Lee snapped out of his rage, smothered the fire with a blanket and water, and called 911.
She suffered second and third-degree burns to her upper body.
The case was initially classified as an accident until police investigated further.
The couple had been dating for about six months. Court heard the woman received regular beatings over several weeks.
Lee pleaded guilty in November to five offences, including aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm. Other charges, including attempted murder, were withdrawn.
Lee’s defence lawyer requested a sentence of seven to eight years, while the Crown argued that the horrific crime called for a term between 16 and 19 years.
Provincial court Judge Marilyn White sentenced Lee Thursday to 14 1/2 years but gave him six months credit for the the time he has already served before trial.