B.C. gay basher gets 17-month sentence

A Vancouver man who pleaded guilty to gay-bashing has been sentenced to 17 months in jail for what a B.C. Supreme Court judge deemed a hate crime.

Michael Kandola lashed out at Jordan Smith, who was holding hands with another man as they walked on a downtown Vancouver street in September 2008.

Smith, then 27, suffered jaw fractures. The victim and witnesses said Kandola, then 20, uttered a string of homophobic slurs during the attack.

Smith had to have surgery and his jaw was wired shut for six weeks after the attack.

Calling Kandola's actions vicious, unprovoked and cowardly, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Joel Groves said hatred of Smith's sexual orientation was a motivating factor in the attack, and for that reason, he was meting out a harsher penalty.

Kandola was originally charged with assault, but the Crown soon changed the charge to aggravated assault causing bodily harm.

Graves said Kandola will get credit for the five months he already spent in jail, meaning he will spend 12 more months behind bars if he serves the full sentence.