Jonathon Hurley gets 6.5 years for home invasions, assaulting elderly couple and stabbing man

Two random and violent home invasionsprovided Jonathon Hurley with enough money to buy drugs for one night, but will cost him more than six years offreedom.

The 34-year-old St. John's man was sentencedThursday at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John's.

Justice Peter O'Flaherty accepted a joint recommendation from the defence and prosecution, and sentenced Hurley to 6 years in prison.

Hurley was given enhanced credit for the time he's already served at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, leaving Hurley with just over three years left to serve.

"It's a shocking situation and a shocking crime," O'Flaherty said when summarizing the case.

The prosecution described Sept. 12, 2022 as a night of terror in St. John's.

Hurley and his accomplice, Justin Haynes, 33, had planned to rob a pharmacy, but first needed to steal a car.

Hayneswould later tellpolice they saw a woman in the window of a home on Beaumont Streetand decided to knock on the door. They asked to use the phone, and when her boyfriend came to the door they stormed their way inside.

Hurley attacked the boyfriend, throwing him into a wall and stabbing him twice in the back. He then told him he was going to die. The woman's 12-year-old son was in his room and heard the whole thing.

Hurley and Haynesthen took the keys to a Honda Civic, and drove away.

Assault on elderly couple

Less than an hour later, the duo knocked down the door of a house on Maunders Lane and terrified a 90-year-old man and his 88-year-old wife, who were watching the news.

They threw the couple to the floor and began battering them with kicks and punches, leaving bruises on their bodies.

Hurley and Haynes made off with some jewelry, wallets and $600 in cash.

The court heard they used the money to buy drugs. They were caught the next day when they used the elderly woman's bank cards, including the use of a credit card to put money into an Atlantic Lottery account belonging to Jonathon Hurley.

Haynes was caught first, and immediately told the officers of Hurley's involvement.

Haynes pleaded guilty last year, and was given five years and seven months in prison.

Trial takes bizarre twists

Hurley took his case to trial earlier this month. It opened with a major curveball, when Haynes was brought in to testify and said he acted alone. Hurley, he claimed, wasn't even there.

Recognizing that flew in the face of all the evidence, O'Flaherty allowed the prosecution to enter Haynes's original interview with police, rulingitheld upin court even though he chose to recant it.

At that point, the defence struck a deal with the Crown to end the trial and enter a guilty plea.

This happened almost two years ago and sometimes my mind goes right back to that night- Victim

Prosecutor Alison Doyle said the Crownwould have been seeking a higher sentence for Hurley, but agreed to lower it in exchange for his admission of guilt and to save everyone the hassle of a long, drawn-out trial.

Hurley apologized on Thursday, as the younger couple he robbed, assaulted and stabbedsat behind him in the courtroom.

"I was a total mess. I was on crack cocaine," he said."I was a person that I would not be proud to have my son call his dad."

Hurley said he hopes they can forgive him someday.

At that point, the woman he assaulted and robbed began shaking her head.

The elderly couple did not submit victim impact statements, but the younger couple said they were still feeling the effects of the brazen and random attacks on them in their home.

"The main thing this has taught me is that time is not linear," the woman wrote. "This happened almost two years ago and sometimes my mind goes right back to that night."

The man said he had to leave his job, which was too physically demanding for the long-lasting injuries he suffered from Hurley's stabs. He spent six months on unemployment insurance, which he estimates cost him at least $20,000.

They both said they've struggled to trust people and still get frightened while in their own home.

Hurley spent 604 days on remand at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. His lawyer, Jason Edwards, filed an application to have him granted double credit for that time due to the conditions at the prison. O'Flaherty granted it, meaning Hurley has 1,165 days left to serve.

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