Throwing cat against wall earns man jail time

VERNON – A man has been sentenced to three months in jail for assaulting his girlfriend, and a day in jail for throwing her cat against a wall.

Cody Douglas Lawrence, 21, was charged with assault and causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal following a June 6 incident at his home in Vernon.

Defense lawyer Ignatius Pielecki said the disagreement started over some Facebook comments Lawrence had made about wanting to have sex with another woman. For that, his girlfriend threw a glass at him, and in turn, he began pushing and slapping her, eventually forcing her out of the apartment dressed only in her underwear, Crown lawyer Cristina Cabulea said. 

Police found the woman in the hallway, surrounded by clothing and suitcases. Lawrence had opened the door and tossed her cat against the hallway wall. Both Crown and defense said the cat suffered no injuries whatsoever.

Pielecki said Lawrence suffers developmental disabilities, and has shown remorse for his actions.

Provincial Court judge Mark Takahashi said an aggravating factor was Lawrence's past criminal record, which includes assaults and robberies. He sentenced Lawrence to three months of jail, minus the month he has already served in custody. He gave Lawrence an additional day in jail for throwing the cat against a wall.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.