A convicted sex offender accused in the recent attack on a sleeping woman at a University of Manitoba dormitory told court earlier this year he wanted to “do well” in the community after completing high-risk sex offender and addictions programs behind bars.
Garry Junior Edwards, 46, was arrested Friday, accused of attacking the victim hours earlier in her room at the Arthur V. Mauro Residence at 120 Dafoe Rd.
Edwards was released from prison Nov. 6 after serving nearly every day of a 12-year sentence for two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and other offences.
SUPPLIED
Garry Junior Edwards: charged with attack on sleeping woman at U of M dorm Friday.
Two months later, Edwards was sentenced to three months in jail after he failed to return to the Osborne Street halfway house where he had been ordered to reside.
Court heard Edwards didn’t return to the halfway house Nov. 22, one day after results from a urinalysis test showed he had consumed alcohol, methamphetamine and cocaine. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken back into custody Dec. 14.
Crown attorney Kevin Clayton described Edwards’s record as “horrifying” and “very concerning,” noting at the same time he completed “all kinds” of rehabilitative programming while in custody.
“It’s unfortunate that upon his release to Winnipeg that things quickly went south,” Clayton told provincial court Judge Anne Krahn at the Jan. 23 sentencing hearing.
Defence lawyer Sean Gallop said Edwards “ran into friends” with whom he consumed the drugs and alcohol and then panicked.
“He is 100 per cent remorseful,” Gallop said. “He didn’t know what to do.”
Edwards “eventually wants to get out into the community and do well,” Gallop said. “He’s done well in (prison) and completed a lot of programs, all the high-risk sex programs and addictions programs.”
Krahn urged Edwards to “follow the rules” when he was released, or he would land right back in custody.
“I am hoping at this point you are outgrowing that cycle of coming in and out of custody,” Krahn said. “There is a much more peaceful life awaiting you if you can just walk away from alcohol and drugs and work with your parole officer.”
Edwards’s attacks on two women in 2012 were also tied to his addiction to drugs. Court heard at his 2013 sentencing that Edwards has had a nearly life-long addiction to crack cocaine and set about robbing the victims for drug money.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
At approximately 4:45 a.m. Monday, the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the report of break, enter and assault that occurred at the Arthur V. Mauro Student Residence complex on Dafoe Rd. at the University of Manitoba. An adult female reported that while in her suite, an intruder entered her room and physically assaulted her. She managed to fight off the suspect calling for help. The female was treated for injuries and is in stable condition.
Court heard Edwards grabbed a 21-year-old woman off the street near Cityplace and threatened to stab her before taking her purse and dragging her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her.
The woman broke free and Edwards fled, only to attack a 27-year-old woman he followed into a Donald Street apartment block 30 minutes later. Edwards robbed the woman in an elevator, then dragged her to a stairwell and raped her.
Edwards stole the woman’s Jeep and was arrested following a high-speed chase with police.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said during question period Tuesday the province will be expanding electronic monitoring of high-risk offenders “and looking for more opportunities to ensure that there is safety in our communities.”
“There’s going to be more news on this front, very shortly,” Wiebe said.
dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
Dean Pritchard
Courts reporter
Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean.
Every piece of reporting Dean produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.