Man who tried to kill girlfriend designated dangerous offender
A Saskatchewan man who beat, choked and tried to kill a former girlfriend has received an indeterminate prison sentence after being designated a dangerous offender.
Justice Grant Currie announced his sentencing decision for Cory James Smockum on Friday in Saskatoon Court of Queen's Bench.
Based on expert testimony at Smockum's dangerous offender hearing, Currie found he demonstrated a pattern of repetitive and uncontrollable violence that “constitutes a threat to the life, safety or physical or mental well-being of other persons.”
One of two psychiatrists who testified at the hearing found Smockum is “highly likely to reoffend violently in the future” and the risk of it happening isn't likely to be reduced to an “acceptable level.”
A jury convicted Smockum, 41, of attempted murder after a trial in 2020. Currie, through his finding of fact, determined the jury believed Smockum attacked his then-girlfriend in a garage after an argument, called her family and told them he was going to kill her, then left with her on a quad, which she later escaped.
Nine people wore T-shirts in court in support of the victim, who cried when Smockum's sentencing decision was read.
Currie's accompanying written decision outlined a history of Smockum's prior violent offences spanning 18 years: a domestic assault, a sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm against a woman and a man, five other assault convictions and a robbery with violence in which Smockum beat a pizza delivery man with a wooden fish bat.
Dr. Liam Ennis determined Smockum's pattern of sustained aggression stems from his abusive father, who forced him to fight as a child and taught him that when he fought, he had to win.
His violence is unregulated and impulsive; he explodes into rage if he feels even slightly challenged or disrespected, often engaging in “overkill” behaviour, Ennis found.
Court heard when his victims try to leave, Smockum often continues attacking, sometimes only stopping when someone else intervenes.
Ennis and Dr. Terry Nicholaichuk testified that any treatment Smockum has received so far has been ineffective. Much of that has to do with his inability to reintegrate into society, they found.
“To date, he has not been able to implement the programming on the outside,” Ennis said, attributing it to a lack of motivation and self-reflection.
During his hearing, Smockum testified that he is ready to change.
“This is not the first time, however, that Mr. Smockum has told a court that he truly gets it, that he realizes that he must change, and that he is determined that he will change,” Currie wrote, providing examples from past sentences.
He ruled an indeterminate sentence is the only way to protect the public from Smockum.
“I have concluded that Mr. Smockum is highly likely to remain a violent offender at least until he is in his sixties, a period that only begins in 19 years. A conventional sentence, combined with a period of probation — even if both are substantial in length — would not serve to protect the public.”
Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle argued his client's record is not extensive enough to warrant a dangerous offender designation, and he is treatable because he is finally acknowledging his childhood abuse.
He said Smockum has instructed him to file an appeal.