In what’s believed to be the harshest sentence given to a Canadian animal abuser, a Calgary decide on Thursday handed a psychopathic, serial cat killer a 6 1/2-year jail time period.
Aleeta Raugust confirmed no emotion as Justice Mike Dinkel handed down his judgment, the stiffest animal-abuse case discovered on report.
Dinkel stated Raugust’s crimes, if sentenced individually, would have garnered a sentence of greater than 12 years.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
But he stated when contemplating a worldwide time period, that needs to be decreased to eight years.
The Calgary Court of Justice decide stated even that time period, nevertheless, could be exceedingly crushing to the 26-year-old offender, and decreased her whole sentence to 78 months.
With credit score for time she has already spent on remand, Raugust should serve an extra 66.5 months, or roughly 5 1/2 years, Dinkel stated.
Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood had sought a punishment within the eight- to 10-year vary, arguing the a number of aggravating components within the case warranted a stiffer sanction.
But defence lawyer Moira McAvoy stated an applicable sentence would have been 5 years.
Neither the Crown nor defence have been capable of finding a precedent case near that determine.
Offender discovered to be ‘psychopath and sociopath with bleak hope for rehabilitation’
Dinkel famous the prognosis for Raugust shouldn’t be optimistic.
He referred to an intensive psychiatric evaluation that discovered she was a powerful risk to reoffend.
“In the end, Raugust was found to be a psychopath and sociopath with bleak hope for rehabilitation,” Dinkel stated.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
Raugust earlier pleaded responsible to 9 animal-abuse prices involving cruelty to 9 felines, seven of which she killed.
She additionally pleaded responsible to a cost of uttering threats when she stated she would burn down her condo building if launched from hospital, after she was admitted with suicidal ideas final Jan. 23.
Dinkel stated a harsh sentence was warranted, at one level expressing concern for what would occur as soon as she is launched.
“I’m concerned about the day she does get out of jail. She’s not pet-sitting for me,” he stated, when McAvoy famous her consumer must be freed finally.
“I find these offences against defenceless and vulnerable cats to be grave,” he stated.
“I also find that Raugust’s moral blameworthiness is very high based on the results of the psychiatric report, which concludes that she is a psychopath with moderate to high likelihood to reoffend.”
The decide acknowledged Canadians discover animal abuse abhorrent, however he stated he additionally needed to apply the legislation and never succumb to public stress.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues under.
“I have no doubt that the Canadian public wants to see tougher sentencing with respect to these types of cases,” he stated.
“I understand and accept that certain members of the public will find any sentence I impose inadequate, however, I must not be swayed by such thinking,” Dinkel stated.
“As much as I may find personally the actions of Raugust to be abhorrent and unconscionable, my duty is to focus on the need for denunciation and deterrence, and balance that with the principle of restraint,” he stated.
“Simply put, I must apply the law.”
After handing down his sentence, Dinkel addressed Raugust immediately.
“Ms. Raugust, the prognosis for you is not great. Feel free to prove them wrong. Good luck.”
