Man awaits sentencing for break-ins

Mandella Asouth paused to clear his throat before apologizing in court Tuesday for an overnight crime spree that ended with his conviction for breaking into a home and a truck.

“I’d like to apologize to the victims and the courts,” Asouth said to Justice Paul Howard in Ontario Superior Court. “I know what I did was wrong and I take full responsibility.”

Asouth was 18 when he was arrested in the early morning hours of Oct. 10, 2015, for breaking into a house in the 200 block of Geraldine Crescent and a truck in the 2700 block of Radisson Avenue.

He brandished a knife in an altercation with the truck’s owner before being subdued by civilians who held him until police arrived.

He was convicted following a three-day trial last May.

Defence attorney Andrew Telford-Keogh asked for a prison sentence in the range of four to six months while assistant crown attorney Jonathan Lall felt 10-12 months followed by probation was more “appropriate.”

After studying submissions on both sides, Howard will sentence Asouth on March 2.

Telford-Keogh asked the judge to consider that Asouth was a “youthful first offender” with “tremendous rehabilitative potential.”

Telford-Keogh noted Asouth completed high school and has plans to study at the post-secondary level. His mother sat behind him in the courtroom as a show of support, said Telford-Keogh.

In referencing a pre-sentence report on Asouth, Lall said “his lack of insight into the seriousness of his behaviour is somewhat alarming.”

Lall felt the young man, who was born in the Sudan but is now a Canadian citizen, was not “forthcoming to the probation officer” who prepared the report.

Lall pointed out that the owner of the home on Geraldine Crescent was there with his wife and infant child, all of them sleeping at the time of the break-in.

Asouth was convicted of stealing about $400 in cash, passport photos and a cellphone from a basement apartment in the home. All the stolen property was eventually recovered.

The next morning, a homeowner on Radisson Avenue reported a suspect going through the contents of his truck. With the help of his wife and a neighbour, the homeowner subdued the man until police arrived.

During the physical altercation, the suspect pulled a knife from his pocket and flipped it open.

The truck’s owner and his wife both filed victim-impact statements, which were not read in court.

Asouth was convicted of common assault, assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property, break and enter and possessing tools for the purpose of break and enter.

Lall argued the nature of these offences call for “a significant deterrent aspect.”

He pointed out that since 2015, Asouth has not enrolled in any post-secondary classes and is currently unemployed. He was arrested in April of last year for a breach of recognizance and pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol.

“I’d like to move on with my life,” Asouth told the court. “Get on with my life so I can just start new and go back to school.”

I’d like to apologize to the victims and the courts. I know what I did was wrong and I take full responsibility.