Don't jail man who sexually abused our daughter, parents tell Sask. court

(This is not exactly a 'good' story as such for some but I just wanna highlight the extent of 'love your neighbour' of this couple. I don't think i am that kind if this happens to my daughter)

Don't jail man who sexually abused our daughter, parents tell Sask. court

Jana G Pruden
Canwest News Service

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

REGINA - The parents of a victimized child stood in a Regina courtroom Tuesday to plead for clemency for the man who sexually abused their daughter.

"We don't really want him punished by going to jail," said the woman, who cannot be named because it would identify her daughter.

George Palanciuc, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexual assault and is slated to be sentenced Thursday.

Crown prosecutor Jamie Fitz-Gerald said the first sign of trouble occurred in July 2006, when the child, then four, told her mother Palanciuc had put his "ding dong" in her mouth "like a lollipop."

A relative of Palanciuc's used to babysit the child.

The prosecutor told court the family initially wasn't sure the child's claim was true, particularly since the girl seemed to enjoy going to the Palanciuc home. But about a year later, the child was eating a hotdog and asked her mother if her mother wanted to put the "ding dong" in her mouth. She later made similar comments about ding dongs and lollipops to her father.

When interviewed by investigators, Palanciuc immediately admitted to putting his penis in the girl's mouth on one occasion, and said he put a piece of cloth over her eyes and told the little girl it was a sucker. Palanciuc told police he stopped as soon as the girl said "yuck" or "yucky."

Palanciuc has no criminal record, and the prosecutor noted he "otherwise seems to be a decent individual." A pre-sentence report found Palanciuc a low-risk to reoffend.

Defence lawyer Noah Evanchuk said Palanciuc is extremely remorseful, and is deeply concerned about the effects of his actions on the girl and her family.

The defence is asking for a community-based sentence of about 18 months, and the Crown is requesting a two-year penitentiary term.

After the lawyers' submissions, the girl's mother stood and addressed the court. She said the situation has been very hard on the family, but they don't want the young accused to go to jail or for anything bad to happen to him.

"We just want him to show us that he is extremely sorry for what he did to our daughter," she said.

Provincial court Judge Murray Brown listened to the woman's plea, then remarked on the unusual situation.

"Well, I have to say that's probably the first and one of the few times you'll ever hear the victim's family make a plea like that," he said.

Palanciuc wept as he addressed the court.

"I just want to say I'm so sorry. If I could just get some help," he said, his voice trailing off. "I just want you to forgive me."

Palanciuc added that he doesn't deserve mercy or forgiveness.

After listening to Palanciuc's tearful words, the victim's father spoke softly, saying: "Anger has left me. I had to get rid of the anger otherwise I couldn't live."

The victim's mother said the little girl seems to be doing well, and said the family is taking it one day at a time.

"I'm so sorry," Palanciuc said again, as he wept.

"I know, George," the girl's father told him. "I know."
© Regina Leader-Post 2008

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