Dustin Paxton could be deemed ‘dangerous offender’ for years of abuse against former roommate

The bizarre case of Dustin Paxton returned to the public eye this week after his victim, a former friend and roommate, stepped forward and discusses the fallout from years of debilitating abuse and torture with the hopes Paxton will be deemed a dangerous offender.

Paxton, found guilty last year of aggravated and sexual assault and is awaiting punishment, was in attendance in the Calgary court when his victim described the realities of his new life – a life he leads with a brain injury and disfigured face.

"There's a big question mark hanging over my head. I live in perpetual confusion and fear," he said, according to CBC News.

[ Related: Dustin Paxton smirks as victim describes living in fear ]

The victim suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and bouts of anxiety around items he used to be beaten with, such as extension cords.

The question of why, why Paxton turned a former friend into a punching bag, and worse, has never really been answered. His victim says he felt powerless to end the cycle of repeated trips to the hospital, and home again. But how did it get there?

Paxton could be determined a dangerous offender, a title saved for Canada’s most violent and dangerous criminals. Paul Bernardo is classified as a dangerous offender. So is Gary Walker, dubbed Canada’s worst pedophile, and Johnson Aziga, the first person to be convicted in Canada of first-degree murder for spreading HIV.

The Paxton torture trial shook the prairie provinces two years ago when it was alleged Paxton viciously beat, tortured and sexually assaulted the man.

The trial heard that the victim moved from Winnipeg to Calgary in 2008 to join Paxton and start a business together. The attacks began almost immediately, prompted by small incidents such as conversations on leftovers found in the fridge.

The victim claimed at trial that he put up with the early attacks because he didn't want to appear to be a "sissy" and thought he would make a lot of money in Calgary.

A year into the relationship, however, the beatings had increased in severity to the point of cracked skulls and ruptured bowels.

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The court heard that Paxton's business eventually failed and the pair began hopping between hotel rooms until they ended up in Saskatchewan. The suspect was eventually dropped at a Regina hospital, disfigured and weighing about 87 lbs.

Paxton was eventually found guilty in 2012 of aggravated and sexual assault. Much of this story was recounted on Wednesday as a Calgary court considered Paxton's punishment.

Paxton could be deemed a dangerous offender, keeping him behind bars indefinitely, or could also receive a sentence of either 6-8 years or 15-18 years as requested by the defence and Crown respectively.

Paxton is said to have smirked and shook his head as the victim read his statement. Paxton's response was less emotional:

He did not offer an apology.

The case is expected to return to court at the end of the month. A judge's ruling is expected some time after that.

Paxton’s crimes were brutal, malicious and destructive. They ended a man’s normal life and left him a shell. They show a willingness to destroy for pleasure, or perhaps simply out of habit. His victim said he spoke out of the hopes it would stop it from happening to anyone ever again.

And Paxton sneers.

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