The chilling details of two random and violent home invasions last fall were spelled out for the first time in open court this morning.
They’re part of the agreed statement of facts between the Crown and defence for one of the two men charged — Justin Haynes.
Haynes was viewed as more of an accomplice than instigator in the events of September 12th.
His quick guilty pleas, and no criminal record, are in stark contrast to the other accused, Jonathon Hurley, who has a lengthy record of serious crimes and has pleaded not guilty with a trial date set for next year.
(Jonathon Hurley and Justin Haynes are shown in court after being arrested last fall.)
Details of Haynes’ lesser role were read aloud in court this morning — describing how the plan went from robbing a pharmacy to the sudden and violent intrusions into two homes to steal a car, cash, jewelry, purses and bank cards.
But it also included the stabbing of homeowner Jon Wells on Beaumont Street who, according to the facts, was knifed twice by Hurley, who told him he was going to die. Wells almost did, and is still recovering.
The suspects stole the keys and car of Wells’ girlfriend, and later randomly chose a home on Maunder’s Lane, where they roughed up and robbed a couple in their 80s, eventually returning to Hurley’s house on Buckmasters Circle to smoke crack.
Haynes may have been a bit player, but he went along with it to the end, admitting punching one of their victims.
But the defence made it clear while he may have been “a party to the crimes, he was not the principle,” and simply got involved with the wrong crowd.
Whether Judge David Orr sees it that way should be known when the case is called again next Friday.
Crown prosecutor Jennifer Standen is seeking a sentence of between seven to eight years in prison for Haynes.
Defence lawyer Susan Day countered with a submission of between four and five years.
