Man accused of vandalizing Ottawa Holocaust memorial denied bail
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The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was painted with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also painted on the memorial's facade.
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Iain Aspenlieder, 46, has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident.
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He will remain in custody until his next court date, which is scheduled for July 9, according to Justice of the Peace Stephen Dibblee, who rendered the decision.
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Details behind the decision cannot be published due to a publication ban.
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This comes after the City of Ottawa confirmed that Aspenlieder had been fired from his job as a lawyer last Sunday. According to the Ontario Sunshine List, Aspenlieder was making $146,000 a year.
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'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote.
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'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.'
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Former City of Ottawa lawyer pleads guilty to vandalizing National Holocaust Monument
OTTAWA — A former City of Ottawa lawyer has pleaded guilty after defacing Canada's National Holocaust Monument. Iain Aspenlieder, 46, was charged last month with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. He appeared in court Friday. Aspenlieder's lawyer Michael Spratt said his client pleaded guilty to one count of mischief for defacing the Holocaust memorial and that the Crown has consented to his release on bail. Spratt said a sentencing hearing is expected sometime in the fall, with the date still to be determined. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The lawyer said it's expected that the other charges will be withdrawn at the request of the Crown at the conclusion of the sentencing process. On June 9, the words 'FEED ME' were found scrawled in red paint across the face of the monument in downtown Ottawa. Red paint was also found splashed on other portions of the structure. According to the agreed statement of facts, Aspenlieder was seen on surveillance recordings arriving at the monument just before 3 a.m. on a bicycle. He was carrying red bags and throwing paint on the monument. He left paint cans at the monument, which were collected as evidence. The statement says that when Aspenlieder was arrested at his home on June 27, he was wearing a shirt that had red paint on it and told police: 'I am wearing incriminating evidence.' The next day, Aspenlieder attended a bail hearing while participating in a hunger strike. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in June that he was 'appalled' by the vandalism and that the monument is a space for mourning and remembrance. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said on social media last month that the person charged was a city employee on leave and he asked city officials to take 'all appropriate action.' Interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley said in an email that the individual is no longer employed by the city. The Ontario Sunshine List says Aspenlieder was a legal counsel for the City of Ottawa making over $148,000 a year. The Law Society of Ontario website says Aspenlieder is 'suspended administratively.' Spratt said in an email that Aspenlieder has 'accepted responsibility for his actions.' 'When he is sentenced later this year, the court will hear that his conduct, while unlawful, was driven by a profound sense of compassion and moral urgency — not by hatred or prejudice,' Spratt said. 'He looks forward to demonstrating that his motivation was rooted in a desire to call attention to human suffering, not to cause harm or spread intolerance.' Spratt said the Crown likely will seek a penitentiary sentence. He said the defence likely will suggest that the time Aspenlieder spent in custody is 'punishment enough for his actions.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
