Calgary woman a 'shell' of former self after being raped by cabbie, court hears
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: December 15, 2016 7:25 PM | Last Updated: December 15, 2016
Prosecution says Lemuel Paulos should spend 5 years in prison while defence proposes 2-year sentence
After being raped by a cab driver, a Calgary woman told a judge she is a "shell" of her former self.
Lemuel Paulos, 40, was convicted of sexual assault in April. On Thursday, prosecutor Karuna Ramakrishnan asked for a five-year sentence while defence lawyer John Hooker is seeking two years in custody.
"I am a shell of my former self ... I did not deserve this," said the woman in her victim impact statement. "I will never be the same person that I was."
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Paulos raped the victim — whose identity is protected by a publication ban — when she was a passenger in his taxi in March 2013.
The woman was taking a cab home from Ranchman's, was drunk and "clearly unable to defend herself" — which Ramakrishnan argued is an aggravating factor.
Court heard the woman was hospitalized the next day because of an anxiety attack and has been diagnosed with PTSD.
She said she struggles with severe depression.
Paulos testified in his own defence at the trial and painted himself as the victim. He said the woman who was 50-years-old at the time of the attack threatened to scream "rape" if he did not come into her home.
In seeking a two-year sentence, Hooker argued his client is a good father, husband and has no prior criminal record.
Justice Glenda Campbell has reserved her decision on sentencing until January.