Man who 'viciously' beat Hamilton sex worker almost killing her sentenced to 10 years in prison

WARNING: This article contains distressing detailsanddescriptions of violence.

The man who "viciously"attacked a sex worker in a secluded downtown Hamilton alley, leaving her unresponsive in apool of blood with life-altering injuries,will serve 10years in prison, a judge ordered on Tuesday.

Gbenga Obajuluwa, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for the unprovoked, "extreme level of violence" he used against the 47-year-old woman in 2022, saidOntario Court of Justice Amanda Camara, as part of her sentencing decision.

Thevictim's identity is protected under a publication ban.

Her injuries were so severe, she wasn't expected to survive and Hamilton police's homicide unit were preemptivelycalled in to investigate, Camara said.

"She did survive but her life now bears no resemblance to her life before this attack," Camara said.

The victim now uses a wheelchair, lives in a long-term care home and has lost her ability to communicate, she said.

Hamilton police's Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, who worked on the case,attended the sentencing.

He told CBC Hamilton thecase shocked and upset residents, and he wassatisfied with the sentence. He said it demonstrates thejudge recognized the severity of the victim's injuries.

"The homicide unit, we usually deal with deceased victims," Bereziuk said. "But when you see a living victim that suffered such serious injuries that resonates with you. You really feel for her."

'No signs of joy:'victim's mother said

In a letter submitted earlier to the court, the victim's mother, whodied recently, describedher daughter as a happy woman who loved to sing and dance. CBC Hamilton is not naming the victim's mother to protect the victim's identity.

"Today she is silent," her mother wrote. "No more singing or dancing, no signs of joy."

In the early morning hours of June 27, 2022, Obajuluwa approached the woman, who was working as a sex worker,near Barton and Emerald streets.They went into the alley and "within seconds" a witness heardscreaming as Obajuluwa repeatedly struck her, said Camara.

"The sheer brutality of the attack cannot be understated," said the justice.

The victim was found face down on the ground, with her pants around her ankles, Camara said. Blood streamed from her head and herteeth were knocked out. She had sustained "profound" injuries including fractures to her face andjaw, a brain bleed, abrasions to both eyes and lacerations to her tongue and lip.

Obajuluwa ran from the alley and threatened a witness, "you're next," Camara said.

The witness flagged down a police officer and the woman received emergency care in the alley before being rushed to the hospital where she underwent surgery.

Attacker's partner reported him to police

Detectives obtained security camera footage and released an image of the attacker, appealing for the public's help in identifying him, said Camara.

His partner at the time, and the mother of his three-year-old son, recognized Obajuluwaand confronted him about the attack, which heconfessed to.She reported him to police and he was arrested.

Obajuluwa has been held in custody for almost two years, which counts against his 10-year sentence. As a Nigerian citizen who was livingin Canada without immigration status, he will likely be deported once he's served the prison time, said Camara.

The Crown had requesteda 12-year sentence, while the defence had suggested the time served was sufficient.

During thesentencing Tuesday, Obajuluwa sat expressionless in the prisoner's box, wearing an orange jumpsuit. Camaranoted that at his last appearance, he claimed his prayers had saved the woman's life.

"It was Mr. Obajuluwa's actions, and only his actions, that put [the victim's] life in a threatening situation. It is only his actions that have so profoundly changed [her]life."

There's s no evidence that he experienced a psychotic episode or was impairedduring the attack, orhas any serious mental health issues, Camara said.