Winnipeg man receives prison sentence for river trail attacks
A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting three women and a teenage girl around Winnipeg's river trail system last year has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Jordan Andrew Bruyere, 30, was sentenced in Manitoba Provincial Court on Monday by Judge Robin Finlayson to 14 years in prison, minus the time he's already spent.
"No one deserves to be attacked. No one deserves to be assaulted," said Finlayson during the sentencing.
Finlayson noted Bruyere's remorse and willingness not to have a trial where the victims would have to testify weighed in the decision.
Bruyere admitted to attacking a woman in her 30s on the outskirts of Downtown Winnipeg on April 8, 2021. The court heard Bruyere pulled the woman down from behind while holding a knife before she was able to scream and run away.
The second incident occurred two months later when a woman in her 20s allegedly asked Bruyere to borrow his cell phone. Bruyere noted there was better reception under the Donald Street Bridge, where he then dragged her down to the river bank, threatened her with a knife and raped her.
The court heard that Bruyere attacked another woman in her 20s who was jogging on the river trail along Churchill Drive eight days later. She was pulled to the ground but managed to escape.
The last incident Bruyere admitted to happened on Aug. 8, 2021, when a 15-year-old girl was walking on the trail near Churchill High School. Bruyere apparently approached her and began talking to her before he sexually assaulted her. She was able to escape and run away to a nearby group of firefighters.
"This is every woman's worst nightmare," said Crown attorney Chantal Boutin.
A HISTORY OF ABUSE
The Crown and Bruyere's defence attorney, Laura Robinson, came together to agree that 14 years behind bars, minus time already spent, was a fair sentence due to Bruyere's tough upbringing.
The court heard Bruyere was abused as a teenager, but due to a publication ban, the specifics about the incident, including the name of the perpetrator, cannot be reported.
The lawyers detailed how Bruyere was abused growing up and battled an addiction to drugs that "exacerbated his PTSD."
"Hurt people hurt other people," said Boutin.
Robinson said Bruyere recognizes he is a risk to the public and regrets what he did. She said Bruyere pled guilty to ensure the process was as quick and easy as possible for the victims.
"It can be so, so hard," said Finlayson during his final remarks. "I consider that a true demonstration of remorse."
Two of the victims wrote impact statements for the judge to read privately.
Bruyere will now serve around 12 years in prison since he's spent a little more than a year in jail after he turned himself in. He will also be added to the child abuse registry.
Once his sentence is over, Bruyere will not be allowed near playgrounds, schools, parks, or other places children might be. He is also not allowed to own any weapons for the rest of his life or contact any of the victims.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.