Sundre woman gets four years for attack
Deanna Wolfe says she was “shocked” that Sundre woman Rita Phillip got only four years in prison for unleashing two pit bulls to mercilessly maul her at Phillip’s mobile home on Aug. 18, 2012.
“For something like that, she should have got more,” Wolfe said outside court after Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Jo’Ann Strekaf delivered her decision on the aggravated assault charge on Friday. “They were really lenient with her because of no prior criminal record and her age.
“We were hoping for the maximum. If I injured an elderly person I’d get the maximum. I’m just glad I don’t have to ever see her again.”
Court heard Wolfe had one ear torn off, chunks of flesh taken out of her arms and legs and numerous other injuries from the vicious attack initiated by Phillip, 58. Wolfe has already endured 14 surgeries and will have to undergo another nine surgeries.
Crown prosecutor Britta Kristensen had sought a seven-year prion term, less 1.5 times credit for 13 months already spent in custody. Defence lawyer Luke Faught argued that the sentence, equivalent to 19.5 months, was sufficient penalty in the circumstances.
“In this case, the two pit bulls were used as weapons,” Strekaf said before giving her sentence. “Ms. Wolfe was subjected to a brutal and vicious attack by two pit bulls for a prolonged period of time. The fear and pain she experienced is difficult to imagine.”
The judge said Wolfe could easily have died if not for someone — likely Phillip — eventually calling off the dogs.
Strekaf had convicted Phillip last year of aggravated assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm to Wolfe, 28, who was staying with her at the time, but stayed the latter charge as a duplication.
Faught had argued the incident was completely out of character for Phillip and that alcohol contributed to this. He said Ms. Phillip was intoxicated at the time.
Phillip told Wolfe in court she was sorry for what happened.
Strekaf said when she convicted Phillip that she had no doubt the woman told the dogs to attack Wolfe, then sat and watched while the dogs mauled her.
Phillip and Wolfe had met twice at another woman’s home in Calgary, then Phillip invited her to stay at her Sundre mobile home.
For nearly two weeks, everything seemed to be going well. But the friendship deteriorated when Goi Apay, Wolfe’s former boyfriend, arrived.
Wolfe had testified during trial that Phillip told Apay about her alleged infidelity, which prompted Wolfe to tell Phillip she wanted to go back home to Calgary.
Then an angry Phillip let the dogs out of their kennels and set them on the victim.
Phillip blamed Apay in a videotaped RCMP statement for releasing the dogs.