Dangerous offender hearing for sexual offender

A Surrey man who has already pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl is back in court fighting a dangerous offender designation that could see him sent to jail indefinitely.

Brian Edward Abrosimo pulled the girl into his van on a quiet country road broad daylight last summer, taped over her eyes and mouth, sexually assaulted her and then dumped her in a field.

• FROM JUNE 20, 2005: Guilty plea in child sex assault case

Crown lawyers argue that he has a history of escalating behaviour. His first sexual assault was against someone he knew, the second was against a prostitute and this third attack was completely random.

They say that's why they want him go through a 60-day psychological assessment – to determine if he should be classified as a dangerous offender.

But defence lawyer David Karp says Abrosimo was on crystal meth and speed at the time of the attack, but is no longer on drugs. And he says there is no need for an assessment.

"He feels horrible about this. The person is a human being, not an animal like he's been portrayed."

Langley Conservative MP Mark Warawa who attended Wednesday's court proceedings says many people in his riding want Abrosimo put away for life.

"It was an outrage when this happened, and at this point the community is waiting to see what happens."

But Karp says Abrosimo can still be rehabilitated, and argues that he won't get that chance if he is put away without the chance for parole.