Suspended sentence for assault

A Charlottetown man who lost a tooth after assaulting someone in a convenience store parking lot was given a suspended sentence recently in provincial court.

Troy Kevin Lund, 47, appeared before Judge John Douglas in Charlottetown for sentencing after pleading guilty in May to the assault.

The court heard that on Dec. 28, 2015, at around 5 p.m. Lund was in a convenience store parking lot when he threw a punch at a man, who was with his exgirlfriend, missed and hit the woman in the shoulder.

During the altercation, the other man hit Lund, knocking a tooth out.

A pre-sentence report included comments from a doctor who said jail time could have a serious impact on Lund’s mental health.

In the past, Lund had to be discharged from Unit 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital because he couldn’t handle the confinement, the court heard.

Crown attorney Cyndria Wedge said she would typically seek jail time, but under the circumstances she recommended a lengthy period of probation.

Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern said his client got into an altercation with the man and when the woman got in the middle of it Lund pushed her out of the way.

Lund, who is not supposed to have any contact with the woman, told the court she is often outside his apartment building leaving him stuck inside until she leaves.

“It’s been a nightmare,” he said.

Douglas gave Lund 18 months of probation with conditions that he not have contact with the victims. Lund must write them apology letters and has to pay a $100 victim surcharge.