Discharge for husband after hospital wait sparks assault

A dispute over wait times at Greater Niagara General Hospital led to a charge of assault against a newlywed.

Niagara Regional Police were called to the Niagara Falls hospital Dec. 11, 2018, after a witness reported a man was trying to force a woman inside the facility.

An investigation determined the woman was at hospital for treatment of a finger injury, but left after learning of the lengthy wait time to see a physician.

Her spouse of 30 days disagreed with her decision to leave. He grabbed her by the coat and attempted to force her back inside the hospital.

Police were called and 27-yearold Hardeep Singh was arrested.

In Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Monday, Singh pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. He was granted an absolute discharge.

“You have to understand that in Canadian law any application of force, however slight, is an assault,” Judge Tory Colvin told the husband.

“What is unusual here is there was no hostile intent and no intent to apply force other than for a good reason.”

His lawyer said his client “doesn’t normally try to control where his wife goes” but he was concerned about her well-being.

An absolute discharge means there is a finding of guilt but no conviction is registered.