The sentencing and dangerous offender hearing has been delayed for a Penticton man who pleaded guilty to a vicious attack on a woman in front of her toddler in 2011.
The hearing for David Wesley Bobbitt, scheduled to being at the Penticton courthouse on June 9, was adjourned because the judge was unavailable due to illness. A dangerous offender hearing is for serious personal injury offences that carry a sentence of 10 years or more.
Last year Bobbitt pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful confinement or imprisonment and uttering threats. He also pleaded guilty to single counts of aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault and assault with a weapon.
The attack took place on the July long weekend in 2011 when a 22-year-old Penticton woman and her toddler son, whose names are protected by court order, were held inside Dave's Second Hand Store for over 10 hours. While in the Ellis Street business, owned by Bobbitt, the woman was confined to a bed and beaten. The woman had been in the store to purchase a mattress for her son when she was knocked out with a sledgehammer or mallet. The toddler was not physically injured in the incident.
The woman's family contacted RCMP when she did not drop her child off and did not appear for work. Bobbitt fled the store before RCMP arrived and a manhunt ensued for four days until he was arrested in the Oliver/Osoyoos area.
In November, Justice Geoff Barrow indicated Penticton sheriffs were concerned about the security for Bobbitt's sentencing and dangerous offender hearing, which are expected to take place over four weeks. Crown counsel also expressed concern about moving the hearing and sentencing to Kelowna because the witnesses expected to be called are "very fragile" and it would also be an inconvenience to them. Barrow ruled the proceedings should take place in the community where the attack occurred.
Bobbitt is scheduled to be back in court, appearing via video, on June 16 to fix a new date for his sentencing and dangerous offender hearing.