One of two individuals charged in connection to a shooting incident with police near Delmas from earlier this year is heading to a lengthy prison sentence.
Verena Petruka of Melville was sentenced on Friday to a total of eight and one half years incarceration, less remand time credited at 315 days (calculated at 1.5-to-1).
She has been sentenced to 1,095 days, or three years, for the charge of enabling someone to escape in connection to a robbery incident on April 13 in Regina. This is commonly known as an accessory charge.
On top of that, Petruka was given a consecutive sentence of 1,693 days, or roughly 4.6 years, for discharging a firearm at an officer in connection to the April 14 incident near Delmas.
In addition, Judge Dan O’Hanlon ordered the forfeiture of all firearms, ammunition, weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and some other items that belonged to others. A 10-year firearms prohibition has been imposed, and a mandatory order for the taking of a DNA sample was also imposed. Victim’s surcharges also apply.
The sentence is in line with a joint submission made by Crown and defence before Judge O’Hanlon in Provincial Court Oct. 30.
O’Hanlon had adjourned sentencing until Nov. 9 mainly to consider s.672.11 of the Criminal Code – the provision where the court could order assessment of the mental condition of the accused. O’Hanlon decided not to make a s.672.11 order, as the section was not applicable to this instance, and the penitentiary would assess the accused in any event.
The judge spoke at length about the two charges for which Petruka entered guilty pleas. On the enabling to escape charge, Petruka’s guilty plea stemmed from an incident in Regina involving herself and co-accused Tristan Pinder, in which she acted as an accessory.
In that instance, the driver of a taxi van had his throat slashed and the taxi van was stolen. Judge O’Hanlon called that incident a “senseless, brutal and cowardly attack on an innocent and vulnerable man.”
The judge also pointed to Petruka’s reaction, saying it “cannot be said that she was horrified or greatly startled.”
The second incident happened April 14 when the stolen vehicle was spotted going eastbound on Highway 16.
An RCMP constable located the vehicle near Delmas and drove behind it. Soon after, O’Hanlon noted that Petruka had leaned out the driver’s window and fired a 12-gauge shotgun at the constable. That shotgun later ended up in the ditch.
O’Hanlon also described these as “senseless, brutal and cowardly acts.” He said the RCMP constable was “scared for his life” and had simply been carrying out his duties that day.
In determining sentence, O’Hanlon said he considered protection of the public as well as denunciation and deterrence. He also noted there were mitigating grounds including Petruka’s lack of a criminal record, her early guilty plea, and the fact she was a secondary actor.
O’Hanlon noted there was not an issue with Petruka’s fitness to stand trial, but did acknowledge there were underlying mental health issues. The judge said he was content the federal system would assess and work to deal with those issues.
All other charges against Petruka in the case are withdrawn.
As for co-accused Tristan Pinder, he continues to face attempted murder and several other charges in connection to the incidents. Those will be dealt with in Queen’s Bench court. Pinder remains in custody.
