Tai Han Truong, 50, was handed a suspended sentence with 18 months of probation Tuesday in provincial court after earlier being convicted of assault with a weapon.

Judge James Wheatley also ordered Truong to take treatment and counselling for alcohol and drug abuse while on probation and to have no contact with victim Kiet Thieu.

As well, Truong must submit a DNA sample for the national DNA databank and is prohibited from possessing weapons for five years. He was also ordered to pay a $300 (USD 291, €223) victim fine surcharge.

Chinese club

Court heard Truong had been playing mahjong - a gambling game involving tiles - at a Chinese social club at 10852 97 St. on April 19, 2009.

Thieu testified he had been watching several mahjong matches as well as a televised hockey game and told court Truong got angry after losing and threw a tile at him.

Then, for no apparent reason, Truong jumped up, grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby table and chased after a running Thieu, stabbing him several times.

Court heard Thieu suffered stab wounds to his temple and shoulder and had defensive wounds on his hands.

Truong, testifying in his own defence, denied throwing a tile at Thieu and said the victim had attacked him with a piece of wood, however Wheatley rejected his evidence.

'Disturbing set of events'

Crown prosecutor Anne Schutte described the incident as a "very disturbing set of events" and called it a "vicious" and "unprovoked" attack, including a pursuit, as a result of a "moment of rage" over a loss at a mahjong game.

Schutte had sought a three-to-four-month jail term followed by two years of probation.

In a victim impact statement, Thieu wrote he was "very scared" during the attack and says he thinks about it often and is now nervous to go out in public.

Defence lawyer Michelle Kai told court Truong was born in Vietnam and has five children and a grandchild.

Kai described Truong as a "good family man" who supports his parents and children, a "hard worker" and a "good neighbour" and said the stabbing incident was a "bizarre" and "isolated" event.

Court also heard Truong has a criminal record with three convictions for possession of a narcotic.

(QMI Agency)