Ukrainian newcomer left with scar, nightmares as 'constant reminder' of 2022 stabbing at The Forks, court told

WARNING: This story contains graphic details of violence:

A newcomer to Winnipeg from Ukraine who was bear-sprayed, stabbed in the neck and beaten two years ago says he still has nightmares from the "profound impact"of theunprovokedattack on Canada Day, just weeks after fleeing his war-torn home country.

He remembers clearly the moment a doctor told him, ahead of emergency surgery to repair a collapsed lung and jugular vein, that there was a "very real chance he would not survive."

"The pain, the surgery, and the scar serve as a constant reminder,"Crown attorneyMelissa Schradersaid Tuesday as she read out the man's victim impact statement in a Winnipeg courtroom.

"Theyencroached on the most intimate thing I have, my life, without any reason."

Schraderasked for a six-year sentence forTyson Cole Steven Bechard, 21, for his role in the three-on-one attack across from thethe Canadian Museum for Human Rightson July 1, 2022.Bechard pleaded guilty to aggravated assault last fall.

Bechard, who was 19 at the time, was accused with another man his age, Jayden Kyle Martin,and a 15-year-old boy of attacking two Ukrainian refugeesat The Forksafter Canada Day celebrations at the national historic site.

The two victims had fled to Canada in late May and early June that year, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As Bechard and three other friends were crossing the street in front of the museum that evening, one person in hisgroup and one of the Ukrainian newcomersbumped into each other, Schrader said as she read out a statement of facts.

One of the newcomersapologized, court heard.

The three co-accused doubledback and attacked the men. A fourth in their group stayed out of it, according to Schrader.

Boasted of attack

The 15-year-old bear-sprayed the men, one of whomstarted to run, while the other fell to the ground.

Court heard that man said, "what is wrong, I don't understand," and asked his attackersto stop, calling them "comrade" and telling them he was from Ukraine.

Martinstabbed the man twice and the blade snapped off in his neck, court heard.

Bechardadmitted he punched the man twice in the head.

The attackers fled on a Winnipeg Transit bus. Passersby attended to the injured man until police arrived and he was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The other Ukrainian newcomer didn't provide a statement in court, but Schrader said "he was so scared that he actually wanted to leave Canada. He was no longer feeling safe."

Surveillance footage fromthe bus played in court Tuesday showed the people accuseddiscussing the event including remarking about how the knife blade snapped off in the man's neck.

Bechard can be heard saying, "I punched the guy right in the head."

Another inthe group can be heard saying, "I'm from Ukraine, I'm from Ukraine," parroting what the victim saidas he wasattacked.

"Mr. Bechard and his friends are boasting about the assault throughout the recording, they'relaughing a number of times talking about whetherthey will be on the news," Schrader said.

'Not a person we should give up on': defence

Provincial court Judge Vincent Sinclair asked if the crime was considered hate-motivated.

Bechard's defence lawyer Tony Kavanaghsaid it wasn't a targeted incident, and the group learned only during the attack the men were Ukrainian.Schrader agreed.

"[Bechard] tells me he was very remorseful that these were Ukrainian folks," Kavanagh said.

A pre-sentence report showed Bechard had family members who attended residential schools and he was disconnected from his Indigenous culture. There was substance abuse in his family, and that was also a factor for Bechard, who Kavanagh said no longer drinks but still consumes cannabis.

The report noted Bechard as a high risk to reoffend, court heard.

Schrader asked Judge Sinclair to impose a six-year sentencefor the "callous disregard" of the attack. Kavanaghargued that's too high, because his client had no prior criminal record.

Kavanagh also saidBechard didn't know the victim had been stabbed when he punched him. He acknowledges he was wrong and co-operated with investigators, saysKavanagh, who has asked Sinclair for between 3 and four years.

"This is a young individual who still has a future; this is not a person we should give up on," Kavanagh said.

The 15-year-old co-accused, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was previously sentenced to two years of community custody and supervision, the youth max for aggravated assault, said Schrader.

Martin pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and is expected to be sentenced soon. He could face up to six years in prison, court heard.

Sinclair adjourned Tuesday to consider the sentence recommendations for Bechard, who is not in custody and appeared in court in a grey hoodie, blue jeans and black boots.

"Safe to say that you can expect to go to penitentiary," Sinclair said to Bechard."I want you to think long and hard about anything you want to tell me."