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Both victims survived.

In declining to hand the offender a sentence in the top end of the eight- to 10-year range proposed by Buziak, Hall agreed with defence counsel Andrea Serink the offender’s drug intoxication at the time and his aboriginal background served to mitigate his punishment.

Serink had sought a six-year prison term.

“It is clear that Mr. Ledesma has had a tragic life,” Hall said.

“While much of that is his own doing, it starts with a terrible childhood and upbringing, which is not his fault.”

The judge noted the offender’s life has included family violence, foster care and long-term alcohol abuse.

His father died when Ledesma was six years old and his mother was the victim of manslaughter in November 2011, at the hands of her then-common-law husband.

But Hall also said there were myriad aggravating factors, including Ledesma’s prior criminal record, the fact his victims were in a residence and “presumed to be safe,” and that he manufactured the makeshift knife he used in the crimes.

“I find the amount of violence in this case, the severity of the injuries, the fact that the offence occurred in a place of residence and presumed safety, are aggravating factors,” he said.

Because Ledesma has already served the equivalent of about six years when given 1.5 days credit for each day already served, he’ll have about two more years to do on the aggravated assault charges.

But the time is academic (other than being considered by parole officials) as Ledesma is facing an automatic life sentence for second-degree murder in the Sept. 9, 2016 choking death of Alvin Chiniquay, in the cell they shared in remand.

KMartin@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @KMartinCourts