WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man who tossed a bound, injured woman into a metal garbage bin on a cold winter night, fully expecting her to die, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Joey Audy, 36, previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder for the unprovoked attack in December 2023.

“The fact that (the victim) survived is by sheer luck,” provincial court Judge Rachel Rusen said Thursday. “Mr. Audy intended to kill (her).”

“This was a brutal attack on a vulnerable person,” she said. “Mr. Audy … demonstrated his complete disregard for human life.”

Tory leader apologizes for gesture in legislature

WINNIPEG — Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan formally apologized Thursday — after being called out by the Speaker of the legislature — for pretending to shoot himself in the mouth during question period one day earlier.

Speaker Tom Lindsey said the gesture was “egregious” and called for the apology after investigating a complaint from Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and reviewing video of the incident that he called “inappropriate” and “offensive.”

He released the video to the media. It shows Khan making the “finger gun” gesture to mimic a handgun and pointing it at his mouth, then pretending to shoot himself.

Shortly after the incident on Wednesday, Asagwara raised a point of order alleging that the Tory leader made a “very disturbing” gesture in the house that “could be very harmful and very triggering to anybody in this space — or certainly children in the gallery.”

Kinew under fire for comments on the justice system

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has come under fire a second time over comments related to the justice system.

Two groups — the Manitoba Bar Association and the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba — said Kinew’s recent remarks about bail undermine public confidence in the administration of justice and run counter to the principle of an independent judiciary.

“It is concerning when politicians offer commentary on cases before the courts that have not yet been adjudicated,” bar association president Stacey Soldier said in a news release Wednesday.

“Furthermore, it could ultimately affect the fairness of a trial, which doesn’t just affect an accused person; it also affects victims and loved ones.”

Prof predicts scrappy legislative session

WINNIPEG — The gloves will be as members of the legislative assembly return to the chamber for the fall sitting.

Manitoba faces economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and climate impacts from deadly wildfires, but don’t expect any display of unity in the face of adversity, one political expert advised.

“I think we’ll see the two leaders really going at it, and I don’t think it’ll be very pleasant,” University of Manitoba political studies professor Christopher Adams said.

Premier Wab Kinew and Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan have verbally attacked each other repeatedly during question period. Outside the chamber in 2023, there was an alleged physical altercation when the pair shook hands at a Turban Day event in the rotunda.