Cory Lawrence Bitternose has a moderate to high probability to reoffend without a considerable period of incarceration and supervision.
That was the testimony of forensic psychiatrist Thomas MacKay who assessed Bitternose as part of the dangerous offender sentencing hearing continuing in Calgary for the rest of the month.
MacKay assessed the 42-year-old in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping, sexual assault causing bodily harm, assault, uttering threats and dangerous operation of a vehicle in relation to a July 13 in 2008 attack on two women in Banff.
“I interviewed Mr. Bitternose a couple of times, he was cooperative with the interviews and presented as open and helpful,” said the doctor. “He accepted responsibility for his actions generally speaking.”
MacKay added that meant during the interview he implied his alcohol and drug additions were the issue rather than part of it.
“He becomes frustrated very quickly and to get away from stress and frustration he seeks out substances,” he said.
However, addiction was not the only psychological assessment MacKay performed. He also found Bitternose to have antisocial personality disorder, which is characterized by having a lack of respect for the rules of society, impulsiveness, deception, aggressiveness and predatory behaviour.
Dangerous offender status is given only to Canada’s most violent criminals. The Crown must show a criminal has a pattern of violent behaviour and a substantial degree of indifference to their crimes, in addition to the violence of the crime for which they are charged.
MacKay, however, did not support an indeterminate jail sentence, which can be the result of a dangerous offender sentence like in cases such as Albert Muckle.
“I think an indeterminate sentence leaves an individual with a sense there is nothing they can do to get them out of an incarcerated state… that reduces motivation quite a bit.”
He said an extended period of time incarcerated followed by intensive supervision would be helpful for Bitternose to deal with his problems.
MacKay testified Bitternose has a moderate to high risk to reoffend and that can be lowered as he gets help to control his addition and manage his frustration issues.
“I think he would require relatively lengthy intensive supervision and treatment,” he said adding nothing less than a six-year prison term would begin that process. “Incarceration needs to be significant enough to get well enough into these programs.”
The dangerous offender hearing continues until the end of June.
