Waterloo man sentenced to 5 years in violent Flamborough home invasion
A Hamilton judge recalled the cases of Jon Rallo and Russell Williams in sentencing the man convicted in a 2016 violent Flamborough home invasion and sexual assault.
Justice Frederic Campling sentenced Grant Litt, 24, of Waterloo, to five years in prison on counts of break and enter to commit sexual assault, sexual interference and choking on Wednesday. As part of the sentence, Litt is also prohibited from any contact with the victim or her family and received a lifetime ban from owning firearms. He is required to provide the court with a DNA sample.
“Your case reminds me of a man who is notorious in Hamilton criminal history,” he said, noting Rallo’s crimes were more serious than Litt’s. Rallo was convicted of murdering his wife and two children in 1977, but denied any involvement in the crime.
“Mr. Rallo had no criminal record. He, like you, was a fairly ordinary citizen.”
While Campling said the crime was inconsistent with Litt’s background, he noted people with good backgrounds do commit serious offences.
“Just because you have a good background, doesn’t mean there’s not something amiss in your wiring somewhere,” he said, recalling the case of Russell Williams, a military officer who was convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder, sexual assault and other charges in 2010.
The charges stem from an incident in May 2016, when Hamilton police were called to a home near Hwy. 6 and Gore Road after a stranger knocked on the door, forced his way inside and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.
Litt, then 22, was arrested in December 2016 after police released a composite sketch of the suspect. He was convicted in May 2018, but has denied any involvement in the crime.
Campling noted it was difficult to sentence Litt, as he has maintained his innocence of any charges throughout the case. However, despite his denial, Campling said he found Litt had lied in evidence that attempted to explain incriminating circumstances.
“I disbelieved your denial and I found that the case against you was overwhelming,” he said.
In his sentence, Campling referenced the victim impact statement, which stated the victim has difficulty with people touching her neck and with being in the room of the family home where the assault took place, causing the family to renovate and look for a new home.
Assistant Crown attorney Andrew MacLean asked for Litt to be sentenced to eight years, in addition to a no-contact order, a DNA order and a firearms ban. He noted the crime was a violation of the home and against a vulnerable individual.
He added Litt shows a lack of remorse, noting he sees himself as a victim in the situation. The Crown also added choking is an inherently dangerous act, as it can cause brain damage or death. He said that had Litt not been interrupted by the victim’s sibling, there could have been a far worse outcome.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Jeffrey Manishen asked for a sentence of four years, arguing the attack was not planned and that his client lives with a neurodevelopmental disorder, which he was diagnosed with as a child.
Litt declined to address the court.