A man who stabbed a sex worker in a “random and unprovoked” assault near Clifton Hill will spend the next five years behind bars.
Edward Kasper, 33, appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Friday for sentencing on a charge of attempted murder.
The five-year, four-month sentence takes into account the time the Niagara Falls man had spent in pretrial custody, which was the equivalent of more than two years.
“I imagine all of us in this room can’t imagine how utterly terrifying this was for (the victim),” Judge Lynn Robinson said.
The judge described the vicious attack as random and unprovoked.
“You picked on somebody who is so marginalized she has to make a living giving (oral sex) to random men,” she told the offender.
At around 4 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2022, court was told, Kasper picked up the woman at the bottom of Clifton Hill.
The two reached an agreement for the woman to perform a sexual act for money.
The defendant then drove to a dark secluded area on River Lane and parked his truck.
During the sexual act, court was told, Kasper pulled out a knife and stabbed the woman at least eight times in the neck, back and arms.
He yelled several derogatory remarks at the woman as he plunged the knife into her body.
The victim was able to fight off her attacker and escape from the vehicle.
Kasper got out of his truck to continue the attack, but was scared off when a car started nearby.
The victim, bleeding profusely, screamed for help before collapsing on the front yard of a home on Ontario Avenue.
A passerby called 911 and attempted to flag down a passing truck for help.
The vehicle the witness tried to stop was Kasper’s truck.
He fled the area and later washed his truck in an attempt to remove the woman’s blood and DNA.
Niagara Regional Police learned a truck matching the description of the defendant’s vehicle had been involved in a motor vehicle collision a few hours after the stabbing.
Detectives attended at a garage where the vehicle was located and discovered blood on the interior roof and outside the passenger side.
The victim was transported to an out-of-town trauma centre in hospital in serious condition.
Assistant Crown attorney Suzanne Johnson said the victim was especially vulnerable to violence.
“The victim is a sex worker, a vulnerable person by the nature of her employment,” she said.
She said the derogatory comments the offender made while stabbing the woman suggests he may have some “underlying issues” when it come to either sex workers or women.
“The key here is to separate him from society so people can be safe,” Johnson said.
Defence lawyer Wayne Brooks said his client, who had no prior criminal record, has expressed remorse and contrition for his actions.
He said the man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, and was also dealing with the breakdown of his marriage.
“It was a perfect storm situation for him,” Brooks said.
“I don’t think he is the kind of person who has a predilection to violence or has any anger toward women or sex workers.”
Following his arrest, the defendant was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment at a Hamilton hospital.
The report concluded the man was fit to stand trial.
The author of the report said available evidence suggests the man “likely” retained the capacity to understand both the legal and moral wrongfulness of his actions.
In a presentence report submitted to court, Kasper said he may have an issue with pornography, and that he does not have a “rationalized thought process” when he is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
He apologized in court.
“I’m truly sorry,” he told the judge. “There’s something wrong and I need help.”
Robinson urged Kasper to take advantage of any programs offered to him at the penitentiary.
“I know you can do better than that night,” she said.
“I think you will come out a much better person that you were that night.”
