Post by Sher on Aug 9, 2005 17:06:05 GMT -5
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. -- A Nova Scotia man told his mother he loved her yesterday, before being led from a courtroom to serve a five-month jail sentence for beating the 70-year-old woman.
"I've done many things wrong in my life and one thing I never thought I'd do is hit my mom," Robert James Munroe, 40, of Thorburn said when offered a chance to address the court. "I'm very ashamed of myself."
A combination of alcohol and a bad mood brought on by his girlfriend dumping him seemed to be the only motives for the "cruel" attack, said Crown attorney Doug Lloy.
Munroe had been drinking and had fallen asleep at another residence the evening of July 23. When he woke up, his mother drove him back to her house. He was verbally abusive on the way home, upset because his girlfriend had ended their relationship earlier that day.
Inside the house, Munroe suddenly turned on his mother, hitting her on both sides of her head with his hands. She grabbed the phone and went to her bedroom to call the police but he followed, pushing her down and kicking and hitting her.
The assault continued even as the woman fled outside, until she ran to her sister-in-law's and called 911.
"What Mr. Munroe did to his mother is truly reprehensible," said Lloy.
The woman didn't require hospital treatment, but the attack left her with soreness to her face, arms, hip and back. It also aggravated her medical conditions, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.
Judge Mark Chisholm said a mother's forgiveness doesn't erase the seriousness of the crime.
"People that are elderly and not as able to protect themselves must be protected by the court," he said.
"I've done many things wrong in my life and one thing I never thought I'd do is hit my mom," Robert James Munroe, 40, of Thorburn said when offered a chance to address the court. "I'm very ashamed of myself."
A combination of alcohol and a bad mood brought on by his girlfriend dumping him seemed to be the only motives for the "cruel" attack, said Crown attorney Doug Lloy.
Munroe had been drinking and had fallen asleep at another residence the evening of July 23. When he woke up, his mother drove him back to her house. He was verbally abusive on the way home, upset because his girlfriend had ended their relationship earlier that day.
Inside the house, Munroe suddenly turned on his mother, hitting her on both sides of her head with his hands. She grabbed the phone and went to her bedroom to call the police but he followed, pushing her down and kicking and hitting her.
The assault continued even as the woman fled outside, until she ran to her sister-in-law's and called 911.
"What Mr. Munroe did to his mother is truly reprehensible," said Lloy.
The woman didn't require hospital treatment, but the attack left her with soreness to her face, arms, hip and back. It also aggravated her medical conditions, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.
Judge Mark Chisholm said a mother's forgiveness doesn't erase the seriousness of the crime.
"People that are elderly and not as able to protect themselves must be protected by the court," he said.