Sentencing delayed for missionary guilty of assaulting wife and kids

VERNON – The sentence hearing for a missionary found guilty of assaulting his wife and children was postponed Tuesday so he could receive a psychiatric assessment.

The 42-year-old was supposed to be sentenced on charges of assault, assault with a weapon and sexual assault Tuesday afternoon in Vernon Supreme Court but a last minute order for a pre-sentence report and psychiatric assessment adjourned the matter.

The psychiatric assessment will take at least six weeks, Crown counsel Cristina Cabulea said.

A new date is to be set for the sentence hearing. Supreme Court Justice Frank Cole appeared frustrated by Tuesday’s delay; it had been agreed just the day before that no pre-sentence report was required.

“We’re not going to have any more adjournments or any more unnecessary court appearances,” Cole said.

Cole found the accused guilty of ‘correcting’ his children’s behaviour by slapping them and beating them with a comb as well as forcing his wife to have sex with him against her will.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.