Sentencing hearing begins for former Edmonton nightclub employee guilty of sex assault

Two victims of a former Edmonton nightclub employee convicted of sexual assault say they have had nightmares, thoughts of suicide and anxiety since they were attacked.

Matthew McKnight, 33, was accused of sexually assaulting 13 women ranging in age from 17 to 22 between 2010 and 2016.

McKnight pleaded not guilty but a jury convicted him on five of the 13 counts.

Two of the women and some of their family members gave victim impact statements at the start of McKnight's sentencing hearing on Wednesday.

One victim said her bruises have faded but the nightmares will always stay with her. Another said the attack changed her life forever.

The Crown is asking for a sentence of 22½ years for the assaults. Prosecutor Mark Huyser-Wierenga said the offences are gravely serious and McKnight's moral responsibility is huge in the drug-facilitated sex assaults.

He said the judge must "denounce and deter" the vile abuse of the five women.

"These are gravely serious offences and Mr. McKnight's degree of moral responsibility is high," Huyser-Wierenga said in his opening submission.

"He's a man who has had a privileged upbringing in many ways."

• Edmonton bar promoter convicted on five counts of sexual assault

McKnight was convicted in January. Twelve women testified at trial, providing sexually explicit accounts that often became emotional.

The women met McKnight at nightclubs and most were invited back to his downtown apartment for an after-party. All but one of the alleged assaults took place in McKnight's bedroom or bathroom.

But the jury was only convinced by the women's accounts beyond a reasonable doubt in five of the cases. 

'You haunted my dreams and my waking moments'

One of McKnight's victims asked Court of Queen's Bench Justice Doreen Sulyma for permission to address her attacker directly while she delivered her impact statement. 

Permission was granted. 

"I've waited a very long time to be able to stand in front of you and tell you exactly how much damage you caused me," she said through her tears. "You haunted my dreams and my waking moments." 

The woman called McKnight a "true predator" who scared her into silence. 

Her sister also addressed McKnight.

"You hurt my little sister and my best friend," she said. "I'm not sure you're truly sorry for what you did. I think you're sorry you were caught." 

Another victim said it had been 1,545 days since she was happy and healthy. McKnight sexually assaulted her on April 16, 2016.

"Violating my body as though I were some sex doll at his disposal," is how she tearfully described the attack. "Waking up in a nightmare that I will have to relive for the rest of my life."

The woman's mother told the court her daughter has attempted suicide twice.

"Her zest for life is now gone," the mother said. "The mere fact that this has dragged on for as long as it has is sheer torture." 

Six victim impact statements were read in court Wednesday. Two others are to be heard later this week. The hearing is set to run until Friday.