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Saskatoon priest guilty of sexual assault will learn cost of kiss in September
A Ukrainian Catholic priest in Saskatoon will learn the cost of a kiss this fall.
That's when provincial court Judge Lua Gibb will pass sentence on Father Janko Kolosnjaji. The 71-year-old was found guilty in February of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Kolosnjaji kissed the teen two years ago at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. George in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood.
On Monday, prosecutor Sheryl Fillo and defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle made their sentencing submissions. Gibb reserved her decision to September.
Pfefferle is recommending a six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community and made a constitutional challenge, as there is a mandatory minimum sentence of six months imprisonment when the victim of a less-serious sexual assault is under the age of 16.
Pfefferle argued that sending the 71-year-old, who had no previous criminal record, to jail would be "grossly disproportionate and violate his Charter rights," with the offence being on "the low end of allegations, which amount to a very brief peck or kiss."
Prosecutor Sheryl Fillo argued for an eight-month jail sentence followed by probation, no contact with the victim or her family, and counselling.
"This was, for the victim, her first kiss," Fillo said.
"She was a refugee from a war-torn country [Ukraine] and extremely vulnerable … and he would have known it."
The teen read a victim impact statement in court, describing the "pain and shame, I could not understand what had happened."
"The world became hostile and dangerous."
In a statement, her mother said that the assault involved a person in a position of authority.
"This is the destruction of a child's trust, dignity, soul."
Kolosnjaji spoke briefly to the court.
"I am very, very sorry to bring uncomfort to this girl. From my heart, I give just love and support."
If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.
