Homeless man guilty of assault

Attacker inf licted serious brain injury on girlfriend; Crown seeks 10-year term

An Edmonton homeless man who viciously assaulted his best friend and his girlfriend after catching them having sex faces the possibility of a decade in prison.

Lawrence Darrell Brown, 36, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm for the attack on June 11, 2013.

That evening, Brown, his girlfriend of three months Renea Marty, and his best friend Owen Charland were drinking outside a church near 111th Avenue and 101st Street. Court heard they had drank Listerine earlier that day before the liquor stores opened.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Brown went to get more liquor and returned to see his girlfriend and friend having sex.

“He lost it,” defence lawyer Mark Grotski said of his client. Though he was too intoxicated to remember, Brown admits that he kicked Charland in the face, opening a cut above his eye.

Brown then attacked Marty, kicking her in the head repeatedly. His kicks continued after his girlfriend had collapsed and fallen unconscious.

“He launched a very significant attack against her that was meant to cause harm, ”Crown prosecutor Julie Snowdon told court. “He stopped only when he was pulled off of her, when Mr. Charland interfered.”

Brown and Charland then fought until security guards arrived and police were called.

Court heard Marty had been hospitalized only a month before with a head injury.

“With that in mind, Mr. Brown specifically targeted her head,” Snowdon said.

Grotski told court that Brown hadn’t planned the attack and thus didn’t target Marty’s previous head injury.

Snowdon asked for a sentence of nine to 10 years. Grotski argued that a sentence of 2-1/2 years was appropriate.

The attack left Marty with a traumatic brain injury, court heard. She underwent three surgeries in the 24 hours after the beating. She spent weeks in intensive care and it was a month before she could speak properly and eat without a feeding tube. Eight weeks after the attack, Marty was moved to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital to continue her recovery.

Since then, Marty’s condition has improved and court heard that she can live her day-to-day life with some assistance.

“He stopped only when he was pulled off of her.” Crown Prosecutor Julie Snowdon

Throughout the sentencing hearing, Brown sat with his head bowed. Court heard both his parents were residential school survivors and his youth was marked by addictions and violence. Brown has three previous convictions for domestic violence.

“He understands the harm he’s caused,” Grotski said. “These are his friends.”

Brown is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 24.