WARNING: This story contains graphic and disturbing photos and details.
A teenager has received an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to two charges in connection to the violent attack of an 14-year-old boy in Beaumont last year.
The 16-year-old male, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty Monday morning to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.
The judge in the trial agreed to the joint submission of an 18 month sentence: one year in custody, six months under supervision, followed by 18 months of probation.
“This is the worst instance of aggravated assault I’ve come across in 13 years,” judge Geoff Ho said.
The teenager has spent almost a year in custody.
One of his probation conditions will be no possession of knives or double-edged instruments, except to eat.
He had no criminal history prior to the attack.
On June 21, 2016, Braydon Heather was viciously attacked in Beaumont.
RCMP said officers found Braydon near a construction site. They said he suffered serious head injuries and because they were unable to identify him, called on the public for help.
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A youth was later arrested and charged in connection with the attack.
In an Agreed Statement of Facts, the victim and the accused were members of a gang called “The Crew.” During the night of the attack, five members of the gang including Braydon and the accused were attempting to steal items from inside of vehicles.
One of the members of the group told some of the others that they should “jump” Braydon.
According to the Agreed Statement of Facts, Braydon, the accused, and one other person went to the construction site, where Braydon was attacked with a machete by the accused. He was hit several times in the back of the head, face and other parts of his body.
“It’s really more good luck than good management that Braydon Heather didn’t die that morning,” the Crown said in court Monday.
Last summer, a spokesperson for the Heather family said his attacker(s) cut his mouth “like The Joker,” damaging a vein by his left ear which caused him to lose his earlobe. Braydon also received hundreds of stitches on his hands and arms and that his left thumb had to be “re-attached.”
The attack also left him with brain and spinal injuries as well as a broken elbow, left wrist and jaw. The spokesperson added the muscles and nerves around one of Braydon’s eyes were severely damaged.
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According to Braydon’s mother, Amberleah Heather, he spent the first two weeks after the attack in a coma in hospital.
“Braydon required a lot of work to put him back together,” the Crown said.
Amberleah said her son was expected to make a 90 per cent recovery.
“It’s a day-at-a-time kind of thing,” she said last August.
The Crown said it could have “rolled the dice” and proceeded with an attempted murder charge, but this plea provides certainty. The attempted murder charge was withdrawn Monday afternoon.
“Hopefully, it was a one-off and he can get back on track,” the Crown said.
The Crown said Braydon also wants to make a fresh start and move on with his life.
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