Penticton senior pleads guilty to assault causing bodily harm

#Penticton senior Gunter Spoerlein, who was accused of trying to stab his wife with a kitchen knife, has pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm. The charge has been reduced from attempted murder

— Jules Knox (@Jules_Knox) August 13, 2020

Court heard that RCMP were surprised to see Spoerlein's wife answer the door when they responded to the 911 call because she was covered in blood. The Crown said the couple were having coffee in the kitchen when Spoerlein turned violent.

— Jules Knox (@Jules_Knox) August 13, 2020

Defence says that in 2016, Spoerlein suffered from a stroke that changed him, and that afterwards, he suffered from post-stroke vascular dementia. Angry outbursts, fear, confusion and paranoia all combined to cause the otherwise unexplainable violence of Sept. 6, she says.

— Jules Knox (@Jules_Knox) August 13, 2020

Court hears that Spoerlein is now in a long-term care facility and he is not a threat to the general public. His wife still spends time with her husband: outings, walks, the doctor, any food and supplies he needs. But they will never resume their former life living together.

— Jules Knox (@Jules_Knox) August 13, 2020

The judge accepts the joint submission. Sporlein is sentenced to 606 days, but because he doesn't present as a danger in the community, he will serve conditionally. Given credit for 66 days: for a total of 540 days of conditional sentence, followed by 18 months probation.

— Jules Knox (@Jules_Knox) August 13, 2020