WARNING: This story contains disturbing content. Discretion is strongly advised.
Calgary brothers Corey and Cody Manyshots were given a global sentence of 12 years Friday for the kidnapping and repeated rape of a teenage girl.
Provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk sentenced both brothers to 12 years for the kidnapping; six months for uttering threats, eight years for sexual assault causing bodily harm and two years for robbery, to be served concurrent to the 12-year kidnapping sentence.
READ MORE: Manyshots brothers’ sentencing delayed for kidnapping, repeated rape of Calgary teen
Both will receive credit for time served. Cody receives 50 months credit; Corey receives 57 months credit for time served.
Cody has seven years and 10 months left to serve; Corey has seven years and three months left in his sentence.
Judge Semenuk ordered the brothers serve at least six years of the global sentence before they can apply for parole.
Watch below from June 2017: Almost two years after pleading guilty to kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl, two brothers are being sent for testing to determine if they should be found “not criminally responsible.”
Sentencing was delayed several times. It’s been more than three years since the brutal attack.
The Crown had asked for a 12-year sentence.
“We’re certainly pleased the court imposed the exact sentence the Crown sought,” prosecutor Jonathan Hak said outside court.
“The court clearly appreciated the seriousness of the offence and the dangerousness of these offenders.”
Hak called the case “one of the most depraved offences” he’s ever been involved with and called it, “unmitigated evil.”
Defence for both Corey, 29, and Cody, 24, had argued there should be reduced moral blameworthiness, considering their developmental delays.
Court previously heard psychiatric assessments did not address how extreme fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) impacted the commission of the brutal crimes.
“There’s nothing before me that says the accused failed to appreciate that his acts were morally wrong,” Semenuk had previously said.
READ MORE: Calgarians support proposed 12-year sentence for convicted rapists Corey and Cody Manyshots
Corey’s lawyer Mitch Stephensen had suggested a sentence of two years followed by three years of probation.
Alain Hepner represents Cody and had suggested a term of five years in prison. Hepner said Friday he will examine the judge’s 60-page decision before deciding if he will appeal the sentence.
“They come from a disenfranchised background: the FASD report put them at the high end of fetal alcohol syndrome,” Hepner said. “Their life was such that they never really had proper schooling…like I said to the judge, they fell between the cracks of life.”
READ MORE: Judge’s decision on victim impact statement in Manyshots brothers’ case sparks public outrage
The brothers pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault in October 2015.
Agreed statement of facts
The horrific attack happened in November 2014; details are documented in an agreed statement of facts.
A Grade 12 student was waiting for a bus after watching movies at a friend’s house when the brothers grabbed her and forced her into a nearby alley. Corey smashed her phone.
Each took a turn raping and sodomizing her; Corey forced her to perform oral sex.
They then took her to their Martindale home, where she was again repeatedly raped by both brothers.
It was only when they fell asleep that the girl took a chance to escape.
Once she was out of the house, she wrote details on her hand, including the address, the name “Cody” and several words, including “native” and “black and red shovel.”
She took two buses and a CTrain to get home, where she was able to have her mother take her to the police.
The girl took investigators to the area where she was kidnapped, as well as to the home where she was held captive.
She picked both Corey and Cody out of separate photo lineups. On Corey’s photo she wrote: “This is the man.” On his brother’s photo, she wrote: “Cody.”
Community reaction
Several residents from the community of Taradale have been attending the court proceedings. At one appearance, they wore T-shirts with the number 12 on them in support of a 12-year sentence.
On Friday, many were relieved to hear the judge’s decision.
“It was a horrific crime in our neighbourhood,” Karine Ruiz said. “Personally, I have a daughter who is 17, nieces who are in that same age group. It was just something that really hit home; something that you don’t want to hear about.”
Ruiz said she has pushed for additional officers in the northeast neighbourhood. She has also been a part of a program called “Building Safe Communities.”
The victim was not in court Friday, but the Crown said she is doing quite well, given the circumstances.
“I think it’s a very difficult thing to ever get over — and I don’t think we really expect her to get over it — but she is getting on with her life,” Hak said.
Comments