Former Rider Justin Cox to be sentenced

Former Roughrider Justin Cox will hear his fate in a Regina courtroom Friday morning after pleading guilty to assault in September.

In a hearing two weeks ago, the Crown asked for 12 months jail time and 18 months probation which would include anger management, domestic violence programming and a substance abuse program.

The defence asked for significantly less jail time than the Crown or no jail time at all accompanied with an elevated fine he could pay off in the community and probation that would including programming for anger management.

Cox was charged in August of 2017 and during his sentencing hearing, court heard the brutal details of the crime.

According to the information read into the record, Cox and his ex-partner, whose name is protected by a publication ban, were on their way to Shoppers Drug Mart at the Normanview Mall to pick up a pregnancy test as the victim believed she was pregnant.

The court heard that Cox began assaulting her in the parking lot of the Normanview Mall and continued to punch and elbow her as he drove through traffic to the site of the old Mosaic Stadium.

The 23-year-old victim was able to get away from Cox with the help of a bystander. She suffered a broken nose, was bleeding from her ear and lip and had blood around her eye. There were also numerous bruises from the attack. The hospital confirmed that she was pregnant, the Crown prosecutor said.

Cox spoke briefly during the hearing and apologized for what happened.

After Friday’s sentencing, Cox will still have two more charges to deal with including one for assault with a weapon and another assault charge from earlier this year.