A Chatham doctor who pled guilty to domestic assault is being sentenced to two years probation and a five-year weapons ban.
The sentencing comes roughly one year after incidents where the man – whose name cannot be released under a publication ban to protect identity of the victims – admitted to punching his wife in the face and chest, attempting to suffocate his wife with a pillow, and threatening to kill his whole family by driving into a transport truck, the court heard.
The doctor appeared in court on Tuesday with his wife sitting in the gallery. A trial that began with the man described as a "hot-head" is now over, and during her justification for sentencing, Justice Gerri Wong said she has noticed a change in him.
"I wish you and your family well," she told the courtroom. "You have made a very good and solid start... you have done much to show me you're remorseful."
A joint submission from the crown and defence last week called for a suspended sentence, which was granted by Wong and takes into account the days the doctor had already served in custody.
He will still serve three days in jail for a separate count related to breaching a court-ordered recognizance in August 2018.
During the proceedings, the court heard the man and his wife have been frequently attending marriage counselling and he has also been seeing a psychiatrist.
In closing, Wong told the court she is optimistic about the prospect for change.
"I see this to be the beginning of a new family," she said.
