Domestic violence: community work for ex-artistic director Denis Wolff

A Quebec artistic director who beat an intimate partner ultimately got away with community service, even though the Crown hoped he would reflect on his actions in the penitentiary.

• Also read: Violence against an intimate partner: an artistic director feels sorry for himself

“Despite the seriousness of the recognized actions, a penitentiary sentence […] proves too severe,” ruled Judge Thierry Nadon Tuesday morning at the Montreal courthouse.

Denis Wolff, who had contributed to the success of artists like Jean Leloup, Pierre Lapointe and Loco Locass, pleaded guilty last year to charges of simple assault and assault causing injury.

During arguments with a woman he was seeing, Wolff hit her with sheets or a slipper, threw an iPad in her face or dragged her by the arm. The violent actions took place over several months a few years ago.

“We must reaffirm loud and clear the courts’ denunciation of marital offenses,” said Judge Nadon. The consequences suffered to date demonstrate this, despite the years that have passed.”

The victim, whose identity is protected, still has to live with physical pain and mental health issues today.

But Judge Nadon noted that Wolff, who had an “unblemished past,” has “lost everything” since the charges.

Denis Wolff has since undertaken therapy and become involved with Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous.

“He sincerely regrets what happened, places no blame on the victim and takes full responsibility for his actions,” underlined the magistrate.

But during sentencing submissions, Wolff said he beat his then-partner because she didn’t understand how much he loved.

“His rationalization of actions is difficult to follow,” admitted Judge Nadon.

Despite this, the magistrate decided to impose two years’ probation without supervision on the artistic director. The 68-year-old will also have to complete 100 hours of community service over the next year.

According to Judge Nadon, the three-year penitentiary sentence requested by Crown prosecutor M^e Hélène Décarie “is not proportional to the seriousness of the offenses and the moral culpability of the offender.”