Another month before sentencing decision in Bradley Barton manslaughter case

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After three days of legal arguments, the former long-haul trucker convicted of killing an Indigenous mother in an Edmonton hotel room ten years ago will learn his fate late next month.

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Justice Stephen Hillier will sentence Bradley Barton to a prison term on July 27. How long a term remains to be seen. The Crown is asking for 18 to 20 years, while the defence is seeking five to nine.

Barton was convicted Feb. 19 of manslaughter for killing Cindy Gladue by sexually assaulting her ten years ago. Gladue, 36, bled to death from an 11 cm vaginal wound in the bathtub of Barton’s suite at the Yellowhead Inn on June 22, 2011.

Barton was acquitted of murder in 2015 but was ordered to face a new trial over issues with the first case — including the court’s handling of Gladue as an Indigenous woman and a sexual assault victim.

Barton, a 53-year-old Ontario resident, gave a tearful statement before court adjourned Wednesday.

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“You may think I’m a terrible person, but I want you and everybody in the public to know I never meant to hurt this lady,” Barton told an Edmonton courtroom.

“Even so I take responsibility for taking her life. I’m sorry. I want to apologize to Cindy and her family. I also want to apologize to my wife and family for causing them so much shame and stress.”

Family members and loved ones of Gladue cried and embraced in the gallery as court adjourned.

Crown and defence lawyers began their submissions on sentence Monday. Barton was convicted by a jury, which means much of sentencing dealt with the Crown and defence theories about what happened in Barton’s hotel room.

The defence says Barton and Gladue had consensual sex on two nights in a row while Barton was in Edmonton for a moving job. He claimed he accidentally caused the injury after inserting his hand into her vagina past his base knuckles. Barton says he didn’t think Gladue was seriously injured and that he fell asleep while she bled to death in the bathtub.

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The Crown successfully argued that Gladue died in a sexual assault. Prosecutors argued Gladue could not have consented to the activity in question — either due to pain or intoxication — and that Barton dumped her in the bathtub to cover up his crimes.

The most heated exchange Monday dealt with a character letter submitted by Barton’s common-law wife. The letter described Barton as a person who was “always trying to help others.” The letter also reflected on the difficulties the legal proceedings have caused for the family

Barton “has a truly kind heart and has always been the first to jump in and help anyone, even perfect strangers,” she said.

Crown prosecutor Julie Snowdon said the letter should “for the most part it reads like a victim impact statement and seems to suggest she and Mr. Barton are the victims here.”

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She said it did not contain “even a hint of recognition that a 36-year-old woman lost her life, and three young girls lost their mother.”

“To suggest that this is tone deaf would be charitable,” she said, adding the letter is proof those around Barton share his “lack of insight” into the crime.

Defence lawyer Dino Bottos said it was unfair for the Crown to attack Barton’s spouse. He said such letters are used for the limited purpose of speaking to an offender’s character and are not meant to apologize to the victim’s love ones or reflect on the crime itself.

Hillier is expected to give his decision at 10 a.m. on July 27.

jwakefield@postmedia.com

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