SASKATOON – A man who left a minimum security federal healing lodge was given an additional 15 days in jail Tuesday.
The Crown had asked the court to sentence 34-year-old Norman Cardinal to 60 days consecutive but Judge Vanessa Monar Enweani agreed with the defence’s submission of 15 days.
Judge Monar Enweani said she took Cardinal’s significant Glaude factors into consideration and the unique situation he was facing at the time he left Willow Cree Healing Lodge, adding that they reduced his moral culpability.
The court heard that Cardinal left because one of his family members - whom he is very close to - had threatened to commit suicide.
“I’m sorry for leaving,” said Cardinal who appeared in court via CCTV from the correctional centre. “She was going to kill herself. I just wanted to make sure she was OK. I needed to make sure she was OK.”
Crown prosecutor Thomas Mcnab told the court that Cardinal was last seen at 3 p.m. on Nov. 4 and at the 5 p.m. headcount correctional staff noticed that he was missing.
Mcnab said Rosthern RCMP did door knocking and patrols in the community but couldn’t locate Cardinal.
At the time, Cardinal was serving a two year and two month sentence for two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, unlawfully being in a dwelling house, flight from a peace officer, possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, unauthorized possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon in a vehicle, assault of a peace officer with a weapon/imitation, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, obstruction of a peace officer, and dangerous driving.
Cardinal’s defence told the court that he grew up on Beardy’s First Nation. Both of his parents attended residential school and there was a lot of “nasty domestic violence and extreme alcohol abuse” in his home. He also suffered severe beatings from his father.
Defence said that Cardinal was doing “extremely well at the healing lodge.”
Judge Monar Enweani acknowledged the fact that Cardinal didn’t commit any new offences while he was out.
“I hope you can continue the programming while in custody and get back on track,” said Judge Monar Enweani
