Judge denies bail in ‘relationship terrorism’ case

A Sioux Valley man with domestic assault allegations stretching over a six-month period — which a judge referred to as “relationship terrorism” — was denied bail in a Brandon provincial courtroom on Monday.

“The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when a woman decides to leave the relationship,” Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said. “She’s likely at an increased vulnerability at this point in time, and that makes this situation dangerous.”

Jake Blacksmith, 29, is charged with nine counts of assault, four counts of assault with a weapon, four counts of mischief in relation to property, two counts of assault by choking or suffocating and one count each of assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats to cause bodily harm and forcibly seizing another person’s property.

The Crown opposed Blacksmith’s bail and said he would be a risk to the public — specifically the complainant — if the court released him.

Crown attorney Sarah Kok said the complainant, who is also from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, called Virden RCMP on June 21 and said that her partner was intoxicated and allegedly threatened to stab and kill her.

The woman alleged the man repeatedly assaulted her from December to June. She said he used weapons and wouldn’t let her leave the residence. Officers brought her to a safe place where she gave a formal statement.

Kok said the complainant told police she and Blacksmith recently moved in together at a residence in Sioux Valley. Since that point, she said the violence in their relationship had only gotten worse.

“She indicates that she had previously tried to leave the residence beforehand and that Mr. Blacksmith would keep her in the residence, hitting her with several items as well as his fist to keep her inside,” Kok said.

On one occasion, she alleged that Blacksmith hit her in the face with a two-by-four piece of wood before he dragged her into the living room and used the wood to smash her TV, Kok said.

When the woman tried to call police on a phone she had hidden away, he allegedly grabbed it and threw it down the hall, Kok said.

Just a few days before the complainant spoke to the police, Kok said Blacksmith allegedly came up behind her and wrapped a towel around her neck to strangle her.

“He then starts poking her in the stomach with a screwdriver, indicating that he’s going to stab her … then proceeded to kick her in the stomach,” Kok said.

Blacksmith also allegedly smashed the complainant’s iPad, which she used to communicate with family members.

On the morning of June 21, the complainant came to the house, and she told Blacksmith she was going out to run some errands with her.

“That’s the only way she was able to leave,” Kok said.

She said she was able to contact her mother using Blacksmith’s iPad.

Kok said the complainant went to the doctor and had a note, which described new and old injuries to her body, including goose eggs on her head and two black eyes. Kok said the details in the doctor’s note match the complainant’s allegations.

Police found and arrested Blacksmith the day after the complainant’s statement, and he has been in custody since then.

Defence lawyer Anthony Dawson said Blacksmith denied the allegations. Blacksmith said there had been violence in the relationship, but that he had been the victim, Dawson said.

“There have been times when the complainant has acted against him, acted against his property. So, certainly this is a matter where it’s looking like it might go to trial,” he said.

Dawson also said the complainant has seizures that often cause her to fall and that may be how she got injured.

Dawson said Blacksmith has Gladue factors — his father was alcoholic and abused his mother throughout his childhood. Blacksmith quit school around Grade 5 to watch over his mother.

Blacksmith’s bail plan would have had him living in Sioux Valley under a 24-hour curfew under several conditions, including abstaining from alcohol and drugs and not to contact the complainant. He would also be required to put up $1,000 for cash bail.

Hewitt-Michta acknowledged that Blacksmith is presumed innocent at this stage, but said she had to consider the safety of the public and the complainant as well as anybody else he may form a relationship with.

“Very serious allegations,” she said. “Allegations here of six months’ worth of just relationship terrorism, basically.”

She denied his bail on the ground that he will pose a risk to the public and specifically the complainant.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com