By Tiffany Goodwein

Violent attempted stabbing suspect receives time served

Jan 31, 2020 | 4:18 PM

A man who led a violent foot chase while brandishing a large knife in downtown Vernon in May 2019 will soon walk a free man.

Provincial court Judge Richard Hewson handed down a sentence of time served plus 12 months probation to 42-year-old Stephen Curtis Smith in provincial court today.

Smith was charged with assault with a weapon, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of probation for the knife wielding incident.

The harrowing scene occurred near a busy 32 Avenue parking lot and resulted in several members of the public notifying police.

Witnesses at the time told Vernon Matters they saw a man try to stab another man through the sunroof of a Honda Civic, following a heated foot chase.

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“I heard yelling and screaming. There were two gentlemen running around and one was yelling at the other that he was going to do really bad things with him with a knife, a large knife,” said one witness who requested anonymity.

“I thought ‘Oh man, I’m going to witness this man getting it in the back or the neck,’ because he just about had him,” said another witness to a Vernon Matters reporter on scene.

Sentencing for Smith was adjourned yesterday so Crown and defence could come to an agreement for another charge that occurred at the Okanagan Correctional Centre. Smith plead guilty to mischief yesterday after allegedly vandalizing $3000 worth of kitchen equipment at the jail. Sentencing for the mischief matter will take place separately at a later date.

During yesterday’s court proceedings, Crown lawyer Brock Bellrichard pointed to Smith’s “significant” criminal record. In 2007 Smith was convicted of manslaughter in Alberta. A Canadian Press news article, states Smith beat his girlfriend to death with a tire iron in Grande Prairie. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and was released in 2011.

Bellrichard told the judge that since Smith’s release he has had an assault conviction every year from 2011 to 2019.

“From the Crown’s perspective this shows a significant pattern of violence and history of violence that has been uninterrupted,” Bellrichard said.

Smith’s lawyer, Michael Patterson, told the court that Smith suffers from underlying mental health issues, and arrangements are being made to provide Smith support following his release.

Smith was also sentenced for an incident on May 12. He plead guilty to assault causing bodily harm after punching a man to the ground at the Gateway shelter. The victim received three stitches to the head and scrapes to his arms.

During the sentencing hearing, Smith, who appeared via video from the Okanagan Correctional Centre, told the court that he intends to spend time with his kids following his release.

“When I get out I’m taking care of my kids they need me really bad, so I need to get out there as soon as possible,” Smith said.

Under his probation conditions, Smith is not to possess any knives or weapons and must attend mental health treatment.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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