A road rage incident that left one man with a broken nose left another with a $500 fine.
After a brief trial, Robert Hartley, 64, was found guilty of assault.
The incident occurred on Dec. 12 outside St. Albert Place on St. Anne Street. Hartley was driving down the street and believed the car behind him was following too closely for what he described in court as icy conditions.
When Hartley arrived at St. Albert Place, he pulled in front of the building to drop off his wife,
Hartley told the court the vehicle following him then pulled away but because he was angry about the man’s driving, he flashed his lights at the vehicle.
The driver reversed back to where Hartley was and asked him what was wrong. The driver had assumed when he saw Hartley flashing his lights that there was something wrong with his vehicle.
Hartley and the man began arguing and the man got out of his vehicle. Hartley approached him and the judge concluded he head-butted the man, leaving him with the broken nose and a concussion.
When he took the stand, Hartley denied head-butting the man and said he had thought he was going to be hit. He said he saw the other man raise his hands and lowered his head in a defensive move.
Hartley suffered a small mark on the top of his head, which he suggested was an indication that he had been the victim.
Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison argued, given the extent of the victim’s injuries, Hartley’s story made no sense.
“The version given to us by Mr. Hartley is simply impossible.”
Judge Paul Adilman agreed Hartley’s version was unbelievable and said so directly to the man.
“I have no doubt in my mind that you are not telling the truth.”
Morrison argued that, despite Hartley’s age and lack of criminal record, road rage incidents have to be treated seriously as random acts of violence.
Adilman dismissed that idea as well as suggestions that Harley could be placed on probation and settled on the fine.
He said that simply giving Hartley a record would serve as enough of a deterrent for future bad acts.
