Sentencing arguments heard for Nikolas Stefanatos on acid attack charges

MONTREAL — Sentencing arguments were heard for Nikolas Stefanatos at a courthouse in Longueuil on Wednesday.

Stefanatos is the man who threw cleaning acid over his former girlfriend, Tanya St. Arnauld, following a domestic dispute.

St. Arnauld suffered third degree burns to 20 per cent of her body during the 2012 attack; the majority of which were to her head and upper body.

The crown and defense presented a common suggestion on sentencing: 57 months in jail followed by three years of strict probation.

READ MORE: Judge rules man charged in acid attack to be tried in Longueuil

Once time served is taken in to account, Stefanotos would be left to serve 16 months in prison.

The crown said both the aggravating and mitigating factors, juris prudence and fact that Stefanatos pleaded guilty to his crime should be taken in to consideration.

WATCH: Extended interview: Tanya St-Arnaud on acid attacker’s guilty plea

In her arguments, Stefanatos’ lawyer asked the court to consider the fact that her client also suffered burns during the assault, as well as the media attention the crime generated.

READ MORE: Quebec acid attack victim gets surprise on U.S. talk show

Crown prosecutor Erin Kavanagh, the other hand, dismissed that argument, saying, “What our position was in regards to that issue is that it was not a mitigating circumstance, it wasn’t something that should be taken in to account to lessen the sentence that should be imposed.”

She added, “This is obviously a case that received wide media attention, nationwide and internationally, as well, but the judge should not take that into consideration when imposing sentencing.”

The judge, Hélène Di Salvo, will render her decision on Dec. 16.