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Man convicted in brutal assault given time served, victim remains in wheelchair

THUNDER BAY -- A 22-year-old man was released Thursday after being sentenced to time served for his role in a vicious assault, while his victim watched from the wheelchair he remains in.
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Scott Mesenegeeshik and his father Norman each gave victim impact statements in an assault case Thursday that has left Scott in a wheelchair (Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- A 22-year-old man was released Thursday after being sentenced to time served for his role in a vicious assault, while his victim watched from the wheelchair he remains in.

Mitchell Adam Soloman Suganaqueb was sentenced at the Thunder Bay Courthouse Thursday to seven months plus 18 months probation for assault causing bodily harm after a December 2012 incident at a Villa Street home. He was subsequently released based on time served pre-trial.

On Dec. 29, 2012, the owner of the Villa Street home discovered two unconscious men in the house. Desmond Dennis Matthews, 25, had no vital signs and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Then 23-year-old Scott Mesenegeeshik was also discovered in the home severely injured.

On Jan. 10, 2013, Suganaqueb has arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Matthews.

That charge was withdrawn in March of this year. Crown lawyer Stacey Hamilton said there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

A second man, Justin Lucas Beaver, 22, was arrested on Jan. 14, 2013 and charged with aggravated assault in connection with the  incident.

The court heard from Mesenegeeshik, 25, through a victim impact statement read by his aunt Brenda Cryderman.

Mesenegeeshik has no memory of that night, but his life was changed. He was in a coma and on life support for months; he had to use a feeding tube until summer 2013 and uses a wheelchair. He also has to take speech therapy and uses a computer to speak.

“I used to walk, talk, play hockey, shoot baskets, chase girls. Now I have a difficult time,” he wrote in his statement.

“I have had a number of operations. I had every kind of therapy but I still couldn’t live independently. I am thankful I am alive. I had to fight hard to stay alive but I have many more challenges than I had before Dec. 29, 2012.”

Mesenegeeshik is still at St. Joseph’s hospital and hasn’t been able to go home.

His father Norman also read his victim impact statement to the court Thursday and spoke about how his life has changed since the Villa Street incident.

“I arrived at the hospital to see my son in a coma on life supports, his head was the size of a watermelon,” he said, noting doctors told him his son would probably not survive.

“I remained by his side for the next year-and-a-half. I cannot find the words to express the agony a parent goes through watching a child suffer, not knowing if he will live or die.”

Mesenegeeshik wasn’t breathing on his own and was badly burned.

In his sentencing submissions, defense lawyer David Bruzzese said no one can ignore the tremendous effects the assault had on the victim, but said his client was not directly responsible for the victim’s condition.

He said Suganaqueb assaulted the victim and knocked him down; his more serious injuries were allegedly the result of an altercation with the co-accused in the case.

Suganaqueb told the court he was sorry for his actions on the night in question and also turned to apologize to Mesenegeeshik.

“I’m sorry. I truly am. I’m really sorry, man,” he said.

Beaver's next court date is Dec. 17.

 




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