[jayswin]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Some of you guys are blowing this way out of proportion. My money is on a stupid bar fight that happens between 20 year old guys in every town during every weekend of the year.

I guess it depends how you define "blowing it out of proportion". All we're saying is, regardless of why the charge was laid, aggravated assault is a very serious charge. Like Chock mentioned, it's the worst word you can have in front of assault.


The crown decided to charge him with Aggravated assault because the "victim" (who was probably hammered out of his mind and throwing punches as well)

Sure, that's your speculation which is fine because that's what we're all doing, but that earlier tweet ("Police say Ferland struck male in the face as the victim attended to a person pushed to the ground. Victim suffered broken orbital bone.") suggests otherwise.

Unless he did something really over the top,

This is typically when Aggravated assault charges are laid, when someoen does something really over the top

Ferland will please to a lesser charge and get fines/community service and move on. This is his first offense (AFAIK) and first time offenders always get off easy because everyone makes a stupid decision at least once in their life.

Agreed, that he will likely be able to plead down based on being a first time offender.

What the Flames need to be aware of, however, is that this was simply a young man getting carried away with the booze and losing his cool as opposed to a more serious alcohol/anger issue. Personally, I hope it's the former.

edit: my responses in red