CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man who assaulted a 79-year-old cancer patient during a road-rage incident pleaded guilty Monday to assault causing bodily harm.
Kenneth Stewart Longden, 27, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown where he entered the guilty plea.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown attorney Nathan Beck told the court that on Jan. 21 at around 10:15 p.m., Charlottetown police responded to a road-rage incident near the Upton Road roundabout.
The court heard numerous witnesses called 911 to report the incident.
Beck said Longden was driving in front of the victim before suddenly braking, which caused a rear-end collision.
Longden got out of his vehicle, went to the victim’s, opened the driver’s-side door and repeatedly punched the other man.
Beck said it appeared Longden tried to pull the victim, who was 79 years old at the time, out of the vehicle.
The court heard that the victim told police Longden cut him off twice and he was pulling closer to get the accused’s licence plate number.
That’s when Longden stopped, the victim said.
In his statement to police, the victim said Longden came over to his vehicle, undid the victim’s seatbelt and tried to pull him out.
The victim said he was holding onto the steering wheel to keep from getting pulled out and was fearful for his safety.
Longden’s girlfriend told police the victim was driving too close and Longden was upset about the tailgating.
A victim impact statement prepared for the sentencing said the victim had thyroid cancer at the time and was 14 days into 30 radiation sessions when Longden assaulted him.
The court heard the victim went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance after the assault and among other injuries, was described as having badly bruised hands and legs, including where Longden slammed the door on them.
He also reported finding it painful to move one of his arms.
Longden left the scene before the police arrived.
Beck said that since the assault, the victim has been scared to go out, he has been much less active and has started counselling.
The court heard Longden had a prior criminal record which included two convictions for assault.
He is scheduled to be back in court Aug. 18 for sentencing.
