NEW WESTMINSTER - A Surrey man who cruelly abused a woman over a period of 11 months has been sentenced to six years in prison, less three years credit for time served.
Associate Chief Justice Austin Cullen found Jody Matthew Burke, 39, guilty of two counts of assault, two counts of threatening, two counts of assault with a weapon, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault causing bodily harm following a trial in B.C. SupremeCourt in New Westminster.The judge noted at sentencing that Burke's crimes "included both acts of sudden reactive violence, and as well sexual and physical acts of deliberate, prolonged and calculated cruelty."There is a publication ban on any information that could identify Burke's victim.The Crown argued for a sentence of seven to eight years, with no parole until after half the sentence is served, and a number of ancillary orders including that Burke be entered into the federal sex offender database (SOIRA) for life.Crown prosecutor Winston Sayson said the sentence imposed should "serve as a warning for those who choose to commit cowardly acts of violence and cruelty" against women."The Crown is grateful for the courage of the victim when she came forward and told her story," he said.Tom Zytaruk