A man who was found guilty of assault with an axe after a trial in absentia also skipped out on his sentencing.
Martin Joseph Leonce Larose was scheduled to be sentenced in Penticton Provincial Court on March 7.
Instead, like his trial in November of 2023, Larose was nowhere to be seen.
His new lawyer stated that he had not been in recent contact with Larose.
Larose skipped out on his last check-in with his bail supervisor on the Friday before the sentencing and the Crown prosecutor confirmed to the court that he was aware of his sentencing.
The judge issued an unendorsed warrant for Larose’s arrest, which means he will be held in custody until his next court appearance.
READ MORE: Axe-wielding man found guilty after trial in absentia in Penticton
At trial, video evidence of the assault and testimony of the victim was shared with the courts after Larose’s previous lawyer asked to be removed due to a possible conflict of interest.
On the day of the March 18, 2022 incident, Larose drove to the home of the victim. The two knew each other, Larose being the ex of the victim’s girlfriend, and their relationship had deteriorated over the previous year.
After gunning his vehicle toward’s the victim’s dog, Larose got out of the vehicle swinging. The victim shoved Larose back, knocking him down and knocking off his glasses.
Larose got back up, went back to his vehicle and pulled an axe out of the back. He then took that axe and went after his victim, striking him multiple times even after he fell onto the ground.
The victim’s hand had been split open, and he also suffered wounds to his leg, all of which bled significantly and scarred.
The entire situation was recorded on the victim’s home surveillance system.
The judge ruled that based on the victim’s testimony and the illustrative videos that were shared with the court that Larose was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that there was “no air of reality of any sort of self-defence” claim for Larose.
A new date for Larose’ sentencing will be set after he is taken into custody.
