Hopedale man sentenced to 60 days for uttering threats

WARNING: This story contains details of suicide and intimate partner violence

A Hopedale man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to the manslaughter death of his brother was also charged while serving that sentence for threatening his partner — the mother of three of his children.

Johannes Semigak believed his partner was unfaithful to him while he was in jail and threatened to kill her and himself. In an encounter with correctional officers, Semigak told them that if he couldn't be with his partner then nobody would.

When police warned his partner about the remarks he made, she said that he had made them in the past.

A nurse, who saw Semigak during his incarceration, said the man expressed similar violent thoughts to her about his partner.

Over a period of 28 days between June and July of this year, Semigak called his partner's home over three hundred times. The calls ranged from one minute to twenty minutes in length. Those calls were not recorded so the nature ccouldn't be included in the court's decision. But, Judge Jennifer Standen said Semigak's comments and "incessant contact" would have been concerning.

On Friday, Standen sentenced Semigak to 60 days in jail for the threats he made. Standen put a no contact order in place between Semigak and his partner and ordered that any access to their shared children needed to be made through a third party.

WATCH |  More time behind bars for a man who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter death of his brother: 

Hopedale man serving sentence for manslaughter gets more time for threatening mother of his kids

2 months ago

Duration 1:50

Johannes Semigak participated in a sentencing circle after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of his brother, a process documented in a story by CBC N.L. While serving his sentence, Semigak called his partner more than 300 times — and told a guard that if he couldn’t be with her no one could. The CBC’s Regan Burden has the full story.

Standen also considered banning Semigak from returning to Hopedale, where his partner and their shared children live, but said that "banishment is somewhat antiquated" and being away from his land and his home would have a detrimental impact on the man's rehabilitation and reintegration.

Semigak was emotional during his court appearance. He broke down into tears when Standen spoke of the intergenerational trauma he experienced, the loss of his parents and siblings and the abuse he was exposed to as a child.

Semigak nodded in agreement when Standed said he needed to model acceptable behaviours in relationships for his daughters. 

Serving time in an RCMP lock up

Due to the closure of the Labrador Correctional Centre for asbestos remediation, Semigak spent his time awaiting his court date in remand at the RCMP lock up in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Semigak told CBC that his mental and physical health were suffering during his time at the lock up, as he was spending 23 hours a day in his small cell with no socialization with other inmates, no outdoor time, no video calls with family and no programming.

Standen referred to being remanded as "hard time" and Semigak was granted enhanced credit for his time spent there, with each day being equal to two days of his sentence.

To Semigak's knowledge, he will remain at the RCMP lock up in Happy Valley-Goose Bay until his sentence ends. His scheduled release date is Sept. 22. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.

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