Husband of Belleville police chief gets 30 days for beating her in jealous rage

Published Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 1:47PM ESTLast updated Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 3:05PM EST39 comments

The husband of an eastern Ontario police chief is hoping for a reconciliation after being sentenced to 30 days Friday for beating her in a jealous rage, the man's lawyer said.

David McMullan had pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm after his wife was beaten and had her arm broken in Belleville, Ont., on Aug. 6.

In an agreed statement of fact, he said he attacked his wife, Belleville police Chief Cory McMullan, in the mistaken belief she was having an affair with the city's mayor.

Defence lawyer Dick Borris told reporters his client wanted to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

“He's realistic about the outcome, he'll accept it and hope for reconciliation,” Mr. Borris said. “He hopes, get back to the real world.”

Crown lawyer Rob Flummerfelt was frank about the sentence.

“I'm glad to see the message being sent that if you beat your wife, you're gonna go to jail,” he said.

Court heard Mr. McMullan brutally beat his wife outside a mall and at the family's home in east-end Belleville, and that both attacks were witnessed by an off-duty RCMP officer.

Cory McMullan took the step of going public after her husband was charged.

She said while domestic assault victims are not usually identified, because of her position in the community it was important to acknowledge that she was the victim.

The mayor also went public to deny the affair.

David McMullan was also sentenced to 18 months probation with conditions, including that he not communicate with his wife without her permission.

He must also provide a DNA sample, and has been banned from owning firearms for the rest of his life.

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