Crown seeks 3 months jail time for worker who punched elderly man in head

A personal support worker caught on video repeatedly punching an elderly man in the head apologized to the man's family Thursday, saying he would accept whatever sentence the court decided.

Jie Xiao pleaded guilty in July to one count of assault in connection with the attack four months earlier on 89-year-old Georges Karam.

Xiao, speaking in Mandarin through a translator at his sentencing hearing Thursday, told Karam's family he was "deeply sorry for what Idid."

"I admit all my guilt and I will accept what sentence your honour imposes," he told the Ottawa courtroom.

Xiao, a 44-year-old permanent resident who arrived inCanada from China in 2005, told the court he did not intend to hurt Karam, but that in that moment he failed to remember his duty to his client.

"I have used the wrong way of doing things," he said.

Xiaobowed to the family as he finished speaking, and Reghida Karam, the daughter of the victim, murmured "thank you" from her seat in court.

• Ottawa man captures 'gut-wrenching' footage of care worker punching his grandfather in the head
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Victim punched 10 times, video showed

The attacktook place insideKaram'sroom atGarry J. Armstrong Home, a city-run long-term care facility in Ottawa.

Karamsuffers from dementia, and his family told CBC Radio's As It Happens earlier this year that they had installed a surveillance camera in his room after Karamsufferedcuts and bruises on his face.

Video from the camera showed Xiao punching Karam 10 times in the chin, assistant Crown attorney Riad Tallim told the court.

Tallim called the action "reprehensible" and "disturbing" but noted Xiao was co-operative and expressed genuine remorse.

The Crown recommendedthree months jail and 18 months probation with conditionsincluding rehabilitation for anger management and no contact with the Karam family.

The lawyer for the defence suggested a conditional sentence to be served in the community, saying Xiao was a suitable candidate for rehabilitation.

Apology sincere, says victim's son

Daniel Nassrallah,Karam's grandson,told the court his trust in the long-term care system has been shattered, and that he now watches surveillance video of his grandfather constantly for fear of another assault.

Karam's son, Antoine Karam, had asked the court to "send the strongest message possible" for what he called a "senseless and ruthless act." But afterXiaospoke at the hearing, Karamsaid he felt the apology was sincere andhe wasopen to the possibility of a conditional sentence.

• Consultations on city's long-term care homes begin

The assaultwas one of several that spurred Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to issue a blanket order to the City of Ottawa, demanding itcome up with plans to improve its care home operations.

Justice Julie Bourgeois said she would deliver her sentence on Oct. 20