He took the stand a day late, but the man charged with holding nine people hostage in the WCB building downtown two years ago testified in his sentencing hearing Thursday, and apologized to the victims of the hours-long standoff.
Patrick Clayton began his testimony by reading a one and a half page statement, stating:
"I would like to express my utmost and sincerest apologies to every person in the conference room that day."
As Clayton was questioned by his lawyer he related what had happened over the years since he had injured his knee while at work.
Over the years between the injury and the hostage-taking, Clayton said a WCB-appointed doctor made his injury worse, in later years he learned his issue was not appealable with the WCB and he said he began self-medicating to cope.
"They pretty much bullied me into non-existence…[they] turned me into a person I did not want to be," Clayton said in court.
When cross-examined by the Crown, Clayton admitted to using crack cocaine bi-weekly, for years before he was hurt at work, and that same knee was injured four times before the worksite injury.
He had injured his knee several years before while shoveling snow then had surgery for it.
Later on - he fell twice; aggravating his knee, and at one time his girlfriend hit him with a car, and injured his knee again.
A psychologist also testified Thursday, and said Clayton acted out of obsessive brooding, drug use and self-pity, and that his intentions were to not harm anyone.
However, the psychologist said putting Clayton behind bars wouldn't help him – but recommended halfway measures of community sentencing or halfway incarceration as alternatives.
On Thursday the WCB also weighed in, with a statement from CEO Guy Kerr who said the WCB upgraded security after the incident, which cost $6.6 million – plus yearly security personnel fees of $750,000.
The sentencing hearing continues Friday.
With files from David Ewasuk
