Former city lawyer who defaced National Holocaust Monument pleads guilty
Iain Aspenlieder, 46, stood in the prisoner's box next to his defence lawyer on Friday afternoon and pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief against a war memorial. He had also been charged with mischief over $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct, but those charges are expected to be withdrawn.
Dawn broke on Monday, June 9, to reveal the words "FEED ME" painted in blood-red capital letters on a prominent wall of the monument beside busy Wellington Street.
It was an apparent nod to war-torn Gaza, which the United Nations had described as the " hungriest place on Earth" just three days earlier. The vandalism was quickly covered over with a tarp before being pressure-washed off.
Two weeks later, Ottawa police announced they had charged a 46-year-old man with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct.
Jewish community was 'distraught and disturbed'
Police did not identify the man, but Radio-Canada confirmed it was Iain Aspenlieder, a lawyer for the city who was on leave at the time and is now no longer employed by the city.
The Ontario Sunshine List described Aspenlieder's position as "legal counsel." He had appeared on the list, which documents public sector employees with salaries over $100,000, every year since 2016.
According to the Law Society of Ontario website, Iain David Aspenlieder is "suspended administratively" and is not permitted to practise law. The law society website does not say when he was suspended.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was "very disturbed" to learn the man arrested was a city employee on leave.
"The National Holocaust Monument is a sacred place in our city, an important place in our city," the mayor said. "And I know that members of the Jewish community were very distraught and disturbed to see it vandalized."
A vigil was held at the monument one week after the vandalism.
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