Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 16, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba A A C M K PAGE B3 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COMNEWS I CITY B 3 MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS PEDESTRIAN HIT BY TRUCK A Winnipeg police officer probes the scene where a sanding truck hit a pedestrian in the 100 block of Clonard Avenue at St. Anne's Road Wednesday morning. The pedestrian, whose condition was unknown Wednesday night, was taken to hospital.Officers investigate suspicious death near Dufferin School WINNIPEG homicide investigators have obtained video surveillance as part of their investigation into a suspicious death at a home in the Centennial neighbourhood. Police were called to the home at 516 Alexander Ave. at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday after concerned neighbours noticed the property was “not secured.” The two-storey home is located near the corner of Alexander Avenue and Isabel Street. Inside, police found the body of a man. Police have remained tight-lipped about the death, declining to comment when asked if the man lived at the home, whether it’s believed a weapon was involved or if the man had been injured. A nearby neighbour, who has security cameras, told the Free Press investigators reviewed the footage. “The circumstances surrounding the male’s death are suspicious and the Winnipeg Police Service homicide unit is now investigating,” police said in a statement. Cruiser cars were parked in front and behind the home Wednesday. The front yard was cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape. The home is located directly across the street from Dufferin elementary school, but the investigation did not affect classes. Anyone with information about the death is asked to contact homicide investigators at 204-986-6508. — Ryan Thorpe Man who attacked cousin gets 20 years Dangerous status after 110 convictions DEAN PRITCHARD HE’S racked up nearly 110 criminal convictions and spent most of his adult life in custody. Now, Edward Letandre has been labelled a dangerous offender and sentenced to 20 years in prison for attacking his cousin, whose mistake was letting him stay in her Winnipeg apartment when he had nowhere else to go. Letandre, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in a plea bargain in which prosecutors stayed additional charges and Letandre agreed not to force the matter to go to trial. Dangerous offenders are typically incarcerated for indeterminate terms, and only released when parole officials are satisfied it is safe to do so. Letandre’s plea bargain also took that condition off the table. “It was only through a lot of give-and-take that we arrived at this ‘quid pro quo’-type of plea,” defence lawyer Nolan Boucher told Queen’s Bench Justice Anne Turner. “I’m not sure anyone is happy with the resolution here today. There are no winners.” To be designated a dangerous offender, an accused must be guilty of a personal injury offence punishable by at least 10 years in prison, and have exhibited a repetitive pattern of aggressive behaviour that constitutes a threat to public safety. Letandre’s record includes more than 20 convictions for violence, all of them involving Indigenous women. All of his violent crimes were committed while he was on probation, parole, or bound by a court order. The longest he has remained out of custody without reoffending is six months. “Even his behaviour where there are no charges involves violence and aggression towards women, including female corrections offices to whom he has been aggressive, disrespectful and threatening,” Crown attorney Cindy Sholdice told Turner. Court heard Letandre’s cousin believed he was “going through a hard time” in December 2017, when she agreed to let him stay at her Portage Avenue apartment and sleep on the couch. A year-and-a-half earlier, the woman had been attacked by a stranger with a hammer. The woman told Letandre she continued to suffer from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, Sholdice said. Days after he moved in, Letandre saw the woman had $250 in her purse and asked if he could borrow it. The woman refused, saying she needed it for rent. The next morning, Letandre asked for the money a second time, and again was refused. “Letandre immediately responded by punching (her) in the face with a closed fist in an uppercut motion, knocking her unconscious,” Sholdice said. When she awoke three hours later, her cash was gone, as well as her $500 cellphone. Police arrested Letandre 2 ¥2 months later. Letandre blamed every one of his crimes on alcohol, which he said he used to numb the pain of a traumatic youth marked by physical and sexual abuse at his First Nation school. “It helped take my fears away,” Letandre said during a 30-minute address punctuated by tears and long silences. “Now it’s taken everything away, including my family and my freedom.” Letandre said he only recently started disclosing the full scope of the abuse he suffered, fearing doing so would make him appear weak. “I knew my parents loved me, but I was scared to tell them,” he said. “It’s hard for me to tell the truth, but it’s time for me to let it go.” Turner said she “sincerely hoped” Letandre was being truthful, but expressed skepticism, noting he has participated in “countless” rehabilitative programs across the country, but has made no real effort to change. “If you are honest in what you told me, you have to follow through and take the help that is offered you,” Turner said. Letandre received credit for time served, reducing his remaining sentence to 18 years. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca State of the City With Mayor Brian Bowman Friday, Jan. 24 RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg Buy tickets now: Starting at $100 +GST winnipeg-chamber.com PRESENTING SPONSOR BellMTS MEDIA SPONSOR Winnipeg Free Press TITLE SPONSORS 100 CJ\I CPA CPHR Pitblado A The Chamber The Winnipeg Chamber ef Commerce Lead. Connect. Grow. moniTobRiso United in celebration • Unis dans la féte INSPIRES YOU? VISIT MANITOBA150.COM TO NOMINATE A COMMUNITY CHAMPION TODAY Celebrating 30 years of inspiring families and communities to grow together through the joy of learning. 204-582-1804 ) bookmates.ca | facebook.com/bookmates D FEATURES THAT HELP CONQUERTHE ROAD && SAVE AT THE PUMP. HONDA SENSING™ SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES INCL. COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM™* 1.5L TURBOCHARGED ENGINE* 0 ECON MODE BUTTON* THE WELL-EQUIPPED 2020 ACCORD Driven to reduce emissions since 1948. 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Some features have technological limitations. For additional feature information, limitations and restrictions, please visit www.honda.ca/disclaimers or refer to the vehicle's owner's manual. -e- -e- B_03_Jan-16-20_FP_01.indd B3 2020-01-15 9:33 PM I ;