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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 12, 2007 - 9 Man gets two years for dismembering sister Judge calls killing "horrifying" but respects jury's manslaughter decision By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF George Arsoniadis shared a long embrace with his sister from the prisoner's box of a Milton courtroom Wednesday after he was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for killing and dismembering their older sibling. Arsoniadis, 30, was convicted of manslaughter in June after a two-month long trial that saw him admit to killing his sister Helen two years ago in self defence. He told the court he panicked and tried to conceal the crime by dismembering and disposing of his sister's body parts. Arsoniadis was arrested July 11, 2005 after the 30-year-old woman's body parts were found ­ her head boiled, other body parts packaged in the freezer ­ in the Oakville penthouse condominium the siblings shared at 40 Old Mill Rd. It's a crime Justice John Sproat called "horrifying for the Oakville community." The judge handed Arsoniadis a total sentence of six and a half years, giving him credit for four and a half years served since he was taken into custody 27 months ago. "That was the best we could possibly hope for," defence attorney Paul O'Marra said of the sentencing. The two-years-less-one-day sentence means Arsoniadis will spend his jail term in a provincial correctional facility instead of a federal penitentiary. O'Marra said his client was "initially stunned" to hear the judge's light sentence after the "That was the best we could possibly hope for." Defence attorney Paul O'Marra Crown urged Sproat to put Arsoniadis behind bars for an additional 11-13 years. Arsoniadis testified during the trial in May and June that he accidentally choked his often aggressive sister to death on July 3, 2005 while attempting to restrain her from attacking him. He also told the court he loved Helen. Arsoniadis said he panicked after killing his sister and less than an hour later decided to cover it up. George Arsoniadis A neighbour who noticed the strong smell led police to the apartment more than a week later, when Arsoniadis was arrested. Crown attorney Andrew Goodman argued Arsoniadis was "two days away from the perfect murder," having destroyed and disposed of much of his sister's body. He urged the judge to "send out a signal" by putting Arsoniadis behind bars for at least 11 more years. Since destroyed and missing evidence made the cause of death impossible to determine, Judge Sproat said he could not speculate as to "what evidence might have been." "If the body were intact, there might have been wounds which would throw completely different light on the facts before the court," Sproat said. While he noted "the dismemberment begs the question, what sort of person would do this," ultimately, the judge said he respected the jury's decision to trust that Arsoniadis killed his sister accidentally. Sproat took into account Helen's aggressive nature and history of violence, which was a large part of the defence's case. The testimony to Helen's aggressive behaviour came in part from her sister, Anastasia. "There was a history to what happened leading up to (Helen's) death, and I think that has to weigh in," the judge said. Sproat told the court he believes Arsoniadis has a very low risk of repeat "I just want the court to know that I did not mean for this to happen, and I'm sorry." George Arsoniadis "If the body were intact, there might have been wounds which would throw completely different light on the facts before the court." Justice John Sproat offence. He has no history of violence or aggression, and no prior criminal record. Arsoniadis was given a chance to address the court Wednesday before Sproat announced his sentencing. "I just want to say that I'm sorry," said the slight, dark haired man, standing in the prisoner's box, his hands folded in front of him. "I want to apologize to everybody that was affected. I want to apologize to the Oakville community, to the residents of Old Mill drive in Oakville. "I want to apologize to Anastasia and her family for putting her through all this. "I just want the court to know that I did not mean for this to happen, and I'm sorry." Anastasia sat through the proceedings Wednesday with her husband, at times with tears in her eyes. Arsoniadis' only remaining blood relative, she stood by her brother throughout the trial. Arsoniadis remained straight faced when the sentence was delivered Wednesday, but later became "quite emotional" when talking to Anastasia, his lawyer said. "He wept after he spoke to his sister, who hugged him," said O'Marra. Added co-council Rudy Koch, "He was saying not this Christmas, but next Christmas, he could be spending with his sister." OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE s 3015 Dundas Street2007 Operating and Capital Budget West Monday, March 26, 200 7 gar Road TAKE7:30 p.m. that OakvilleC hambers, Town Hall - 1225 9, 2007 resolved to give NOTICE - C ouncil Town Council, on October Trafal notice of intent to designate 3015 Dundas StreetCapital under Section 29 of Council will consider the 2007 Operating and West, Budgets as the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 18, as it ison Monday, heritage value recommended by the 2007 Budget C ommittee of cultural March 26 and interest. C hambers. in C ouncil Large Selection of Barstools Voted #1 in Oakville STOREWIDE SALE LARGE SELECTION OF SECTIONALS Anyone of Property: Part of as 31 Concession must re gister with the Description wishin g to appear Lota dele gation 1 N.D.S., municipally known as Clerk'sDundas at 905.338.4235 by 12 noon on Monday, March 26, 2007. 3015 Offi ce Street West, Oakville. Delegations will have a maximum of 10 minutes to address C ouncil. Cultural Heritage Value and Heritage Attributes: The property was owned by C opiesoftheBudgetdiscussiondocumentareavailableontheTown's the Hagar family, who were the founders of Palermo. Lawrence Hagar was well website at www.oakville.ca and in the Finance De partment located on known for his involvement with the Palermo Churchoad between first store in the secon d floor at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar R and built the 8:30 a.m. the community, adjacent to the family homestead at 2527 Dundas Street West. and 4:30 p.m. The subsequent property owner Thomas Thompson is believed to have built the Written submissions hotel and a stage coach stopping place prior to structure in 1860 as a for C ouncil's consideration may be sent, between York the meetin Dundas and between Milton and Bronte. gar Road, (Toronto) and g, to the Town Clerk, Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafal $ MADE IN CANADA 1,69800* *As Shown STOREWIDE SAL Oakville, L6J 5A6 or by email to townclerk @oakville.ca . The building is a two-storey structure typical of a hotel on a stage coach route in the late 1800s. It was built around 1860 and shows a three-bay symmetrical plan with a central entrance from Dundas Street West. A corner wrap around verandah no longer exists. OBJECTIONS: Any objection to this designation must be filed within 30 days of the date of publication of the notice of intention to designate in the Oakville Beaver, being no later than November 12, 2007. Objections should be directed to Vicki Tytaneck, Acting Town Clerk, 1225 Trafalgar Road, P.O. Box 310, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6. MORE INFORMATION: Any inquiries may be directed to Zubeda Poonja, Heritage Planner for the Planning Services Department at 905-845-6601, extension 3171 or email at zpoonjga@oakville.ca. Last Date for Objection: November 12, 2007 LARGE SELECTION OF OCCASIONAL CHAIRS $ 399 ­ $648 MADE IN CANADA 1029 Speers Rd., Oakville (Speers Rd. & 4th Line Main Location) 905.842.3739 www.joshuacreekfurniture.com Mon - Fri: 10-6 Thurs - Fri: 10-8 Sat: 10-6 Sun: Closed For more information visit www.oakville.ca or call 905-845-6601