Crown prosecution is seeking the maximum sentence that can be served in a provincial institution for a man who stabbed and severely injured a woman outside a Mackenzie nightspot three years ago.
If B.C. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Grauer agrees with Crown's submissions, made during a sentencing hearing Wednesday at the Prince George courthouse, Joshua James Currie, 35, will serve two years less a day in jail followed by three years probation.
Defence counsel argued for a significantly shorter term, possibly served on an intermittent basis, so Currie, who has no previous criminal record, can continue to work and support his family.
Currie has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault from the Dec. 15, 2012 incident that began when a brawl broke out in the pub's parking lot.
The victim, who had just moved to the community north of Prince George, had got into a fight with Currie's then-spouse and was getting the upper hand.
Video evidence showed Currie going to his truck to retrieve a utility tool, walk back towards the altercation, momentarily step back, open the tool's knife blade, then continue forward and stab the woman twice in the stomach.
She did not realize she had been stabbed until she was walking away after the fights were over and felt her intestines hanging outside her stomach, the court heard Wednesday.
She ran to the nearby hospital, laid down and asked staff to "please don't let me die."
She ended up in hospital for a week and underwent surgery for a perforated bowel in which about five centimetres of her intestine was taken out.
According to her victim impact statement, her abdomen has been permanently disfigured, she has digestive troubles and is suffering ongoing psychological trauma.
Much at issue is Currie's presence of mind at the time.
He's claimed he does not remember stabbing the woman but also told police he had retrieved the utility tool for "knuckle purposes."
Why he momentarily stepped back then opened the knife was a topic of conversation during the hearing.
Crown argues Currie's intent was to seek vengeance against the woman for beating up his spouse, not ward her off.
Currie is a big, muscular man who had other options to deal with the situation, it was noted.
It appears the conflict began because Currie's spouse had been flirting with some other men in the pub, going so far as to kiss one of them.
As patrons were leaving later on, Currie, who had been drinking, pushed the man, knocking his toque off, and a melee among several people broke out.
Other than the push, there was no evidence Currie was fighting and even appeared to be doing his best to break up the altercations before retreating to the truck.
Defence counsel argued Currie had seen the woman knock his spouse unconscious, then resume the attack when she came to.
Worried she was being swarmed by others in the melee, Currie retrieved the utility tool, although the woman had stopped beating his spouse by the time he stabbed her.
At that point, the woman was on her knees after falling over another woman in the crowd, the court was told.
The case ran into a delay after Currie attempted to reverse his plea.
That application was denied in October.
Grauer will issue a decision on sentencing on Friday morning.
