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So began a mutual fight, with the complainant grabbing a set of brass knuckles and telling one of the youths (not the 17-year-old) he was going to run him over, court heard. In turn, the 17-year-old pulled out a machete. The complainant threw a punch but missed. The 17-year-old connected a number of times with his weapon.

After the 17-year-old had hit the complainant several times, the machete was passed to another of the youths, who also hit the victim with it several times. The males continued to assault the victim once he was on the ground, punching and stomping him.

After the teens ran off, the complainant drove himself to the hospital where surgery was needed to help repair serious damage to his arm. Court heard he had suffered multiple gouges that went almost completely through the bone. Multiple screws were needed to repair the bones. In addition, the victim’s triceps had been cut through and a tendon severed.

The 17-year-old was arrested and later released on electronic monitoring, though he later cut his bracelet off. He was later arrested on other charges, including possession of a machete that was found on him during an arrest in May.

Crown prosecutor Norma Quaroni had asked for a sentence of 26 months less remand credit while defence lawyer Estes Fonkalsrud had requested something in the range of 12 to 15 months minus remand.

In asking for the shorter term, Fonkalsrud provided details of his client’s difficult life. While he has a good relationship with an uncle, he was taken away from his parents at a young age because of their problems with substance abuse — a problem the youth later developed. Fonkalsrud said the teen has made efforts to deal with his problems through programming.

As for the machetes, Fonkalsrud said the teen carried them for protection. And while Fonkalsrud argued the assault incident was started by the complainant, he acknowledged his client went overboard during what began as a mutual fight.

Having taken some time to consider, Judge Bruce Henning handed down a 24-month sentence. After remand credit is granted, the teen is left with approximately one year, three months to serve.

hpolischuk@postmedia.com

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