Victoria, British Columbia – A 23-year-old man was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for a violent sexual assault that took place in his CFB Esquimalt dorm room. Hayden Chokrev-Evans, a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, was convicted following a jury trial at the B.C. Supreme Court.
During the trial, it was revealed that the assault involved choking, suffocating, and physically harming a woman he had met on a dating app. The victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, detailed the horrifying ordeal she experienced at the hands of Chokrev-Evans.
The court heard that the victim and Chokrev-Evans initially met on Tinder and later arranged to meet in person in Nanaimo. However, the encounter soon turned violent when the woman visited Chokrev-Evans’ dorm room at the Canadian Forces Base in Esquimalt.
Following the assault, the victim suffered physical injuries, including bruising and difficulty breathing and swallowing. She sought medical attention and reported the incident to the police, leading to Chokrev-Evans’ arrest and subsequent trial.
Throughout the trial, it became clear that Chokrev-Evans showed no remorse for his actions and displayed a concerning lack of empathy towards the victim. The court also noted disturbing behavior exhibited by Chokrev-Evans after the assault, further emphasizing the severity of the crime.
In her sentencing, Justice Carla Forth condemned Chokrev-Evans’ actions as “vile, violent, degrading, and harmful to the victim.” She highlighted the predatory nature of the assault and questioned the possibility of his rehabilitation due to his lack of understanding of the impact of his behavior.
Chokrev-Evans, who had been in custody since February, was ultimately stripped of his membership in the Canadian Armed Forces. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable for their actions.
As the victim continues to cope with the lasting trauma of the assault, it is evident that the impact of such heinous crimes extends far beyond the initial incident. The case sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault and the crucial need for justice and support in such cases.