Between 1988 and 1992, seven women were attacked as they slept in their lower-level suites in the Spruce Cliff neighbourhood of Calgary.
On April 26, 2005, Emile Joseph Cromwell pled guilty to raping four women, in southwest Calgary, between June 1988 and May 1992. While the attacks happened over 13 years ago the case only came to trial this past summer. Despite an intensive investigation around the time of the assaults, there was insufficient evidence and the case went cold. With new DNA evidence, the case was re-opened in July of 2004.
During the trial the following information was disclosed:
The first victim was attacked on June 11, 1988. She was attacked in the middle of the night. After striking her several times in the head with a beer bottle, Cromwell placed a pillow case over her head and proceeded to sexually assault her. In 1989, Cromwell attacked two other women in the same area. Then in 1992, Cromwell attacked a 13-year-old girl. She was sleeping on the couch, while babysitting, when he bound and dragged her to a nearby field to sexually assault her.
Now, as the case wraps up, there is discussion regarding sentencing. CTV reports:
Thursday, the crown argued he should be sentenced to 18 years for the crimes.
The defense says the fact that Cromwell showed remorse and hasn't committed any known crimes since then, means he should only get 10 to 12 years.
Cromwell's lawyer says more violent rape cases have had similar sentences, and this one is no different.
"My respectful submission was that we were toward the lower end of the spectrum," justifies Larry Ross, "I didn't want to minimize the fact or trauma caused to these complainants."
Cromwell's victims are shocked by the sentencing recommendation.
Shannon Denver is "Disgusted."
"In the sense of, poor Mr. Cromwell, that he supposedly pled guilty to save us the trial, and he was doing it for us?
"He was doing it for himself, the DNA had him nailed to the wall, he knew that, now it's being used as a mitigating factor to supposedly give him a lesser sentence," fumes Denver.
All of these women have been living with the pain of these assaults for over thirteen years. And yet, the defense believes that Cromwell should only be sentenced to ten. To me, this is absolutely shocking.
The judge will deliver sentencing on December 8th.
Related Links:
Comments