Scammer
Banned
An Edmonton police officer convicted of assault should be given an 18-month conditional sentence and have a criminal record, a provincial court judge was told Friday.
In his sentencing arguments, Crown prosecutor Matthew Dalidowicz called the assault by Const. Haoyin Zheng an abuse of police power and an attack on a man in a vulnerable position.
Zheng was found guilty last month in the Dec. 15, 2008 attack on a handcuffed man in the back of a police car. Dalidowicz wants Zheng to be given a 18-month conditional sentence and face a firearms prohibition.
Zheng's lawyer, Kirk MacDonald, argued his client — whom he called a "passionate police officer" — has already paid a heavy price for the crime. Zheng feels "perfectly wretched being here," he told Judge John Henderson.
MacDonald admitted Zheng was “perhaps a bit rough.” But he called the incident a brief, unpremeditated loss of control, that should not end the constable’s policing career.
MacDonald entered more than a dozen reference letters into the court record, which ask for Zheng to receive a conditional or absolute discharge.
Zheng will be sentenced on Feb. 17.
On Jan. 28, Zheng was convicted of assault after the judge determined Jean-Marc Viau was jostled enough to rock the police cruiser from side-to-side.
Zheng was found not guilty of assault with a weapon and a second assault charge in the same incident.
Zheng is currently suspended with pay from Edmonton Police. He faces two unrelated assault charges in an arrest on June 6.
In his sentencing arguments, Crown prosecutor Matthew Dalidowicz called the assault by Const. Haoyin Zheng an abuse of police power and an attack on a man in a vulnerable position.
Zheng was found guilty last month in the Dec. 15, 2008 attack on a handcuffed man in the back of a police car. Dalidowicz wants Zheng to be given a 18-month conditional sentence and face a firearms prohibition.
Zheng's lawyer, Kirk MacDonald, argued his client — whom he called a "passionate police officer" — has already paid a heavy price for the crime. Zheng feels "perfectly wretched being here," he told Judge John Henderson.
MacDonald admitted Zheng was “perhaps a bit rough.” But he called the incident a brief, unpremeditated loss of control, that should not end the constable’s policing career.
MacDonald entered more than a dozen reference letters into the court record, which ask for Zheng to receive a conditional or absolute discharge.
Zheng will be sentenced on Feb. 17.
On Jan. 28, Zheng was convicted of assault after the judge determined Jean-Marc Viau was jostled enough to rock the police cruiser from side-to-side.
Zheng was found not guilty of assault with a weapon and a second assault charge in the same incident.
Zheng is currently suspended with pay from Edmonton Police. He faces two unrelated assault charges in an arrest on June 6.
