Machete attacker to undergo mental testing

An assessment which could see him locked up indefinitely has been ordered for a violent Calgary man who chopped the neck of a stranger with a machete.

Justice David Labrenz on Friday granted an application by Crown prosecutor Jason Wuttunee to have Dillion Richard Runions undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine if he meets the criteria for a dangerous offender designation.

Defence counsel Jeanine Zahara, appearing for Runions’ lawyer Andrea Urquhart, did not oppose the application.

Wuttunee made the request after Runions, 29, pleaded guilty to a July 20, 2017, charge of aggravated assault in connection with an attack on Calgarian Krzysztof Kierzek, then 51.

Reading from a statement of agreed facts, Wuttunee told Labrenz the victim had travelled to the downtown area that day to enjoy a day off work.

He ran into a man who he knew only as Ryan, who Kierzek knew from his past to be a drug dealer.

They chatted for a while then parted ways, but Kierzek saw him again later in a park at 17th Avenue and 11th Street S.W. with another man named Chris, with whom he consumed a small amount of alcohol and crystal meth, Wuttunee said.

Soon after, Runions arrived at the park and joined the group and eventually all four left, walking north on 11th Street S.W. A few blocks later, Chris left and the other three ended up walking down an alley behind buildings on 14th Avenue S.W.

There, Ryan pulled out an imitation firearm and Kierzek heard a click.

“At the same time, he sees the accused brandishing a large machete in his hand. Kierzek attempts to move away as the accused slams the machete into the side of his neck,” Wuttunee said.

“Kierzek told police that it felt like a ‘shower of blood’ spraying out of his neck.”

The victim ran down the alley yelling for help while applying pressure to his wound. Two passersby, including a registered nurse, assisted him and called 911.

Kierzek was eventually rushed to Foothills Medical Centre where he was treated for “a severe, life-threatening stab would to his left neck,” Wuttunee said.

Doctor estimated he lost two litres of blood and Kierzek later indicated he thought he was going to die.

Runions will be assessed by doctors at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre to determine if he meets the test to potentially be declared a dangerous offender.

If he is, he would face a potential indefinite prison term.

He’s back in court Oct. 11.