A former Saik'uz man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a Mother's Day domestic slaying of his spouse.
Less credit for time in custody prior to sentencing, Gordon Alexander David will serve a further four years and three months for the May 10, 2015 beating death of Cady Quaw in the Surrey home where the couple lived with David's mother.
According to a reasons for sentence, the alcohol-fueled assault began when Quaw wanted to visit her own mother.
David's mother was knocked unconscious when she tried to intervene and David fled the scene. He was apprehended a few days later on Granville Street in Vancouver.
By that point, they had been living together for about five years and had one child together, now three years old. Both had grown up on the Saik'uz reserve near Vanderhoof.
Quaw, who also had a son from another relationship, was 23 years old at the time of her death and David 34.
David has a lengthy criminal record for offences committed in Vanderhoof, Fort St. James and the Lower Mainland and acknowledged he has been violent in many of his past relationships.
According to a psychiatric report, he displays a number of psychopathic traits. However, in issuing the sentence, B.C. Supreme Court Justice J. Josephson also took into account his expressions of remorse and willingness for rehabilitation and his aboriginal background.
"We all wish him well in that regard on his road to recovery, but recognize that rehabilitation is a long and difficult road even for an undamaged person," Josephson said. "For a person such as Mr. David, who could be a poster child for the effects caused by colonization and residential schools, the road to recovery seems nearly impossible. I can only hope he proves me wrong. Who of us growing up in his shoes would have turned out that much differently and that is a tragedy, a tragedy which cannot be undone and the time eventually comes when the public must be protected from criminal behaviour."
David was sentenced April 18 and the oral reasons for sentence was issued this week.
The full reasons for sentence can be found with this story at pgcitizen.ca.
