By KEILE CAMPBELL
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
PETER Nygard’s legal team in Canada suggested he be sentenced to six years in prison for his sexual assault convictions, citing his age, health and heart conditions.
Their comments in a Toronto court yesterday as Nygard’s sentencing hearing continued came after prosecutors argued that the former Lyford Cay resident should be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Nygard’s lawyer, Gerri Wiebe, asked a judge to grant him credit for time already served at a ratio of 1:1.5 for the over 1000 days Nygard was detained.
If Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein grants the request, Nygard could serve less than two years. He was convicted in November of four counts of sexual assault involving victims –– including a 16-year-old –– he attacked between the 1980s and early 2000s.
Ms Wiebe urged the judge to consider the poor conditions at the Toronto South Detention Centre when he makes his decision.
She said chronic pain management is a particular concern in federal institutions, as well as “bullying, victimisation, and assault on older inmates”.
Justice Goldstein noted that records show Nygard has the resources for a lawyer council to advocate on his behalf while he is detained at Toronto South Detention Centre and expressed confidence that the 83-year-old will be safe.
He added that Nygard’s stay at Toronto South Detention Centre is not guaranteed, and provincial correctional authorities would decide whether to transfer him to the provincial system to serve his time.
Crown prosecutor Neville Golwalla said Nygard has consistently used medical reasons to postpone court proceedings, saying there had been eight months of adjournment to collect medical records.
“I would encourage this court or any other court that’s involved in this matter to consider materials filed at other proceedings relating to Mr Nygard –– the bail hearings, the bail reviews, all about medical medical medical has been the mantra if I can put it that way, and I’m not trying to be pejorative, but Mr Nygard has been raising medical issues throughout his detention,” Mr Golwalla said.
“You haven’t heard from one doctor.”
Superior Judge Goldstein adjourned the sentencing to next Friday, adding he wants to sentence Nygard as soon as possible.
He ruled that three affidavits and two volumes of character references Nygard’s legal team submitted would be made public, but Nygard’s medical records would not be released.
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