Decades of violence: child molester John Greene deemed psychopath
Crown attempting to have Greene declared a dangerous offender after 7-year-old girl attacked
John Greene, the man who abducted, sexually assaulted and tried to kill a seven-year-old Hamilton girl last year has a profound criminal history of violence and meets the criteria for psychopathy, a court heard Monday.
Greene, 30, even assaulted a corrections officer during a recent psychiatric examination that was intended to examine his status as a danger to society.
Forensic psychiatrist Gary Chaimovicz's psychiatric assessment included statements from Greene including that he, "Routinely wants to carry a big old dirty knife" and has "stashed knives throughout the city."
He's quite comfortable with the use of violence for his own personal gain.- Forensic psychiatrist Gary Chaimovicz
Greene also told the doctor that if he was "going to go out with a bang," that he would "take as many people down with him" as he could.
The assessment is part of Green's sentencing hearing, where the Crown has applied that he be declared a dangerous offender and locked away for an indefinite period. If successful, he would have no chance of parole for seven years.
The designation is reserved for Canada's most violent criminals and sexual predators.
7-year-old victim endured brutal assault
Greene pleaded guilty in 2014 to charges of abduction, attempted murder, sexual interference, breach of probation and robbery. The charges stem from a violent incident when he grabbed a young girl from a central Hamilton apartment building. The victim — who is now 8 years old — cannot be named because of a publication ban.
According to an agreed statement of facts in the case, he viciously assaulted the girl both sexually and physically and then poured chlorine bleach all over her in an attempt to destroy any evidence. The court was told that initially, Greene thought he had killed the girl.
On Monday, court heard that Greene told the doctor the kidnapping was part of a desire to act out a then-girlfriend's sexual fantasy of torturing a woman while they had sex. Chaimovicz said there is no evidence of that plan actually being real.
Crown attorney Janet Booy told the court that Greene has 65 past convictions – 30 of which involve violence.
Some of his previous convictions include:
- Stabbing a cyclist who "Took it like a champ," he said in the report.
- Punching an ex-girlfriend in the face, shattering her sinus cavity and causing nerve damage that made a portion of her lip permanently droop.
- Igniting a roman candle at an unknown woman.
- Hitting an ex-girlfriend with a beer bottle while she was holding a child.
- Threatening a neighbour with an axe.
- Grabbing a 13-year-old girls' buttocks.
Greene masturbated in front of corrections officers and woman in elevator, court hears
In the report, Greene also told doctors about throwing a cup of his own urine at a corrections officer, masturbating in front of corrections officers, and masturbating in front of a woman he followed into an elevator. Other convictions includes assorted assaults and thefts.
Greene even got into a brawl with security officers while his psychiatric assessment on this case was taking place.
A security camera video was played in court showing Greene kicking a correctional officer in the stomach before an alarm was sounded and officers swarmed into the room to subdue him. Booy told Justice James Ramsey that Greene bit one of the officers on the arm for about 30 seconds, making him bleed and causing extensive bruising.
"That was clearly a very unwise thing to do," Chaimovicz said. "Most people who are being seen for risk assessment for future violence can at least curtail violent behaviour during the assessment."
When the video was being set up, Greene smiled widely in the courtroom.
'He has a major problem with violence'
Chaimovicz told the court that in his estimation, Greene displays a pattern of behaviours that show he is "comfortable with violence."
"He has a major problem with violence," he said. "He's quite comfortable with the use of violence for his own personal gain."
Chaimovicz did say that Greene has sought help in the past, and did in fact just days before the attempted murder took place. Court heard that Greene had gone to St. Joseph's Hospital saying that he was thinking of hurting people. Chaimovicz said as "best he can tell," no agency followed up with him after the fact.
"It's unclear if he got any sustained psychiatric attention after that."
Greene's lawyer Larissa Fedak cross examined Chaimovicz, and asked questions about his medical history. She noted that Greene "always pleads guilty," and has made comments about "feeling bad" for what he did to the young girl.
He also feels like his life — particularly because of this event — is "messed up," she said.
The hearing continues Tuesday.