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The judge said Aleeta Raugust showed ‘bleak hope for rehabilitation’ in her psychiatric assessment
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In what is believed to be the harshest sentence given to a Canadian animal abuser, a Calgary judge on Thursday handed a psychopathic, serial cat killer a 6 1/2-year prison term.
Aleeta Raugust showed no emotion as Justice Mike Dinkel handed down his judgment, the stiffest animal-abuse case found on record.
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Dinkel said Raugust’s crimes, if sentenced individually, would have garnered a sentence of more than 12 years.
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But he said when considering a global term, that should be reduced to eight years.
The Calgary Court of Justice judge said even that term, however, would be exceedingly crushing to the 26-year-old offender, and reduced her total sentence to 78 months.
With credit for time she has already spent on remand, Raugust must serve an additional 66.5 months, or roughly 5 1/2 years, Dinkel said.
Crown prosecutor Rose Greenwood had sought a punishment in the eight- to 10-year range, arguing the multiple aggravating factors in the case warranted a stiffer sanction.
But defence lawyer Moira McAvoy said an appropriate sentence would have been five years.
Neither the Crown nor defence were able to find a precedent case close to that figure.
Offender found to be ‘psychopath and sociopath with bleak hope for rehabilitation’
Dinkel noted the prognosis for Raugust is not optimistic.
He referred to an extensive psychiatric assessment that found she was a strong threat to reoffend.
“In the end, Raugust was found to be a psychopath and sociopath with bleak hope for rehabilitation,” Dinkel said.
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Raugust earlier pleaded guilty to nine animal-abuse charges involving cruelty to nine felines, seven of which she killed.
She also pleaded guilty to a charge of uttering threats when she said she would burn down her apartment building if released from hospital, after she was admitted with suicidal thoughts last Jan. 23.
Dinkel said a harsh sentence was warranted, at one point expressing concern for what would happen once she is released.
“I’m concerned about the day she does get out of jail. She’s not pet-sitting for me,” he said, when McAvoy noted her client would have to be freed eventually.
“I find these offences against defenceless and vulnerable cats to be grave,” he said.
“I also find that Raugust’s moral blameworthiness is very high based on the results of the psychiatric report, which concludes that she is a psychopath with moderate to high likelihood to reoffend.”
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The judge acknowledged Canadians find animal abuse abhorrent, but he said he also had to apply the law and not succumb to public pressure.
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“I have no doubt that the Canadian public wants to see tougher sentencing with respect to these types of cases,” he said.
“I understand and accept that certain members of the public will find any sentence I impose inadequate, however, I must not be swayed by such thinking,” Dinkel said.
“As much as I may find personally the actions of Raugust to be abhorrent and unconscionable, my duty is to focus on the need for denunciation and deterrence, and balance that with the principle of restraint,” he said.
“Simply put, I must apply the law.”
After handing down his sentence, Dinkel addressed Raugust directly.
“Ms. Raugust, the prognosis for you is not great. Feel free to prove them wrong. Good luck.”
KMartin@postmedia.com
X: @KMartinCourts
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