EDMONTON – An Edmonton man with a history of making violent attacks is appealing his latest convictions and his designation as a dangerous offender.
The dangerous offender designation handed to Lance Blanchard last month means he could be held in prison indefinitely.
Blanchard was convicted in 2016 of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an Indigenous woman who was jailed to ensure her testimony.
He was also convicted of aggravated assault, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon and other charges.
Tom Engel, Blanchard’s lawyer, filed the notice of appeal Tuesday.
The appeal document says the convictions and sentence were unreasonable and included errors in law.
In his ruling last month, Justice Eric Macklin of Court of Queen’s Bench said Blanchard, 60, posed a high risk for both violent and sexual recidivism.
“’I am satisfied that Mr. Blanchard constitutes a threat to the life, safety and physical well-being of other persons in the community,” Macklin said in court.
“He has shown a pattern of repetitive behaviour.”
The designation means Blanchard won’t be eligible for parole unless he gets treatment that shows he can safely be managed in the community.
His convictions include 10 violent offences, including at least two sexual assaults, that date back to the 1970s.
The Indigenous woman wasn’t able to testify in the dangerous offender hearing for Blanchard because she had died in an unrelated accidental shooting.
Actually it’s even uglier than that. Not only was she kept in custody but she was also forced to ride to court in the same vehicle as her abuser and was temporarily held in the same waiting area pre-trial with this bag of excrement. Not sure what is more sickening, her rape or the manner in which the Crown handled this victim and witness. Another despicable case of Indigenous judicial injustice in this country next to Cindy, Colten and Tina.
Ty for walking & speaking the exact TRUTH!!
Actually it’s even uglier than that. Not only was she kept in custody but she was also forced to ride to court in the same vehicle as her abuser and was temporarily held in the same waiting area pre-trial with this bag of excrement. Not sure what is more sickening, her rape or the manner in which the Crown handled this victim and witness. Another despicable case of Indigenous judicial injustice in this country next to Cindy, Colten and Tina.
Ty for walking & speaking the exact TRUTH!!
The woman he assulted was jailed so she could testify, but she couldn’t give that testimonial because she was shot accidentally?
She testified against him for the sexual assault in 2016. They jailed her so she would show up & testify.
She wasn’t alive to testify st his dangerous offender hearing which was a few years later.
The woman he assulted was jailed so she could testify, but she couldn’t give that testimonial because she was shot accidentally?
She testified against him for the sexual assault in 2016. They jailed her so she would show up & testify.
She wasn’t alive to testify st his dangerous offender hearing which was a few years later.