Man sentenced to five years in prison for violent assault in Vernon

Sep 22, 2023 | 4:57 PM

WARNING: Graphic content described

Robert Wolfe Kingswood has been sentenced to five years in prison, plus a number of court orders, stemming from a violent attack in Vernon.

The sentencing hearing for Kingswood was held at Vernon Supreme Court on Friday, Sept. 22.

During the hearing, the Crown presented details about the incident.

The Crown’s evidence showed Kingswood, 44 at the time of the incident, met the victim, Judy Bellows, 58 at the time, who suffered from a brain injury sustained in her youth and rode a mobility scooter, for the first time at the Eastside Liquor store on 27th Street in Vernon on October 21, 2021.

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Kingswood and Bellows both attended the liquor store on the evening of October 21 separately, and they both returned to the liquor store just before 10:30 p.m. that same night. While arriving at the store that night the pair met each other, talked, and exchanged contact information.

Kingswood then purchased a mickey of whiskey (375 ml), and a pack of cigarettes for Bellows, and together the pair left the store and sat outside, consuming the alcohol, talking, and even dancing a bit, until 12:04 a.m. October 22, when Kingswood suddenly attacked Bellows.

The Crown stated Kingswood grabbed Bellows, struck her in the face with a closed fist several times until she partially fell off her mobility scooter, punched her several more times and dragged her to the ground, then stomped on her head multiple times, falling over twice in the process.

A video from the surveillance camera at the liquor store showing the attack was played at Vernon Supreme Court Friday.

In total, Kingswood struck Bellows with a closed fist 13 times, and stomped on her head six times.

After attacking Bellows he left the scene.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Bellows was discovered by a person on a bike passing by, and paramedics and police were on the scene a short time later to assess and treat her.

In the attack Bellows suffered a multitude of serious injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, an epidural hematoma, a depressed partial front skull fracture, fractures to the jaw, and orbital bone fractures to both eye sockets. She also had more minor injuries including fractured and dislocated fingers, lacerations to the face, a fractured nasal bone, and broken ribs.

She was first taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital then transferred to Kelowna General Hospital, where she remained until November 25, 2021.

At around 9 a.m. on the morning of October 22, Kingswood went to the Vernon RCMP detachment, as he reportedly had no memory of the previous night and he believed he may have been jumped. He brought the clothing he had been wearing the night before, which police seized, and Kingswood told police he did not remember assaulting Bellows and reportedly expressed shock and remorse for his actions.

A victim impact statement, presented by the Crown at the sentencing hearing Friday, stated the attack has resulted in Bellows’ short-term memory, vision and balance being negatively affected. She is also fearful to leave the house in case she gets attacked once again, and is unable to work.

Kingswood was taking medication for mental depression and anxiety at the time, though psychiatric reports did not say he had any signs of mental health illnesses resulting in any violent or aggressive issues. He had no criminal record prior to this attack.

The Defence reiterated the fact that Kingswood went to police the morning after the assault, where he expressed shock and remorse after learning about the attack.

His representation also stated Kingswood has a health condition resulting in kidney stones, which led to him self-medicating with alcohol. He reportedly had slowed down his drinking but has not completely given up alcohol.

Kingswood’s dosage for his mental health medications were increased following his arrest.

Kingswood plead guilty to the lesser charge of Aggravated Assault in April of 2023, though he also faced a charge of Attempted Murder.

The Crown and Defence issued a joint submission in Vernon Supreme Court Friday to have Kingswood sentenced to five years in prison for the Aggravated Assault charge.

The submission also outlined several Court Orders Kingswood must follow, which involved a life -long prohibition of possessing firearms; a mandatory DNA order; and that he have no direct or indirect communication with Bellows while in custody.

After reviewing the evidence, the Justice stated Bellows was a vulnerable and frail person and that Kingswood was fit and 12 years younger; that there was no evidence of extreme intoxication; that there was no provocation to the “brutal” and “horrific” attack which resulted in permanent effects to the victim’s health, quality of life and mental state; that Kingswood left the scene following the assault.

However, the Justice did state that Kingswood “showed genuine remorse” and “revulsion” when learning what he had done; plead guilty to the Aggravated Assault charge, sparing the victim and family the pain of a trial as well as the costs to the taxpayers associated with a trial; and that he did not have a previous criminal record.

The Justice accepted the joint submission and ruled that Kingswood be sentenced to five years in prison, and imposed the aforementioned court orders.

The count of Attempted Murder was stayed.

by Liam Verster

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