Two men have pleaded guilty to charges related to the brutal beating of a mentally ill man on a farm in Saskatchewan.
The incident, which occurred in 2018, left the victim with severe injuries and sparked outrage across the country.
According to court documents, the two accused, 35-year-old Shayne Pfeiffer and 31-year-old Tanner Mirasty, were working on a farm near the town of Rosthern when they attacked the victim, who was also working on the farm.
The victim, who has not been named, suffered multiple injuries including a broken jaw, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. He was also left with permanent brain damage.
The Crown prosecutor, Melodi Kujawa, stated that the attack was unprovoked and that the victim was targeted because of his mental illness.
Both Pfeiffer and Mirasty have pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and are scheduled to be sentenced in May.
The victim’s family, who were present in court, expressed their relief that the accused have taken responsibility for their actions.
In a statement read by the victim’s sister, the family said, “We are grateful that justice is being served and that our brother’s attackers have admitted their guilt. However, our brother’s life will never be the same and we hope that the court will consider this when determining the appropriate sentence.”
The case has brought attention to the treatment of individuals with mental illness and the need for better education and understanding within society.
The judge has ordered a pre-sentence report to be completed before the sentencing hearing in May.
The victim’s family has also requested a victim impact statement to be read in court during the sentencing.
The two accused remain in custody until their sentencing hearing.
