Four years after surviving a violent assault by Richard Mantha and escaping, Aimee Ert has decided to share her story publicly for the first time. At Mantha’s sentencing hearing, the publication ban protecting Ert’s identity was lifted. Ert, who was previously referred to as Avery by CBC News, expressed her desire to have her name revealed so she could spread awareness of her experience.
Ert recounted being drugged, choked, and sexually assaulted by Mantha after agreeing to accompany him to his property near Calgary. She managed to flee from his trailer in a Quonset and ran through fields, driven by a strong will to live. Mantha, 62, was found guilty in April of sexually assaulting three women, including drugging one and using a weapon against another, as well as threatening a fourth woman. Initially facing charges involving seven women, mostly vulnerable sex workers with addiction problems, Mantha’s actions were described as an assault on the victims’ sense of security and self-worth.
During the sentencing hearing, Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin recommended a prison term of 10 to 13 years, while defense attorney Justin Dean argued for a reduced sentence of five to seven years, citing Mantha’s declining health. The final decision on Mantha’s sentence is expected to be delivered by Justice Judith Shriar on September 17.
In court, Ert read two victim impact statements in which she expressed forgiveness towards Mantha for her own healing, though she will never forget the harm he caused. Despite facing challenges in her personal and professional life post-incident, Ert is dedicated to recovering from her long-standing addiction struggles. She emphasized her desire to be viewed as a survivor rather than a victim and hopes her journey can inspire others facing similar hardships.
Mantha, who suffered a stroke and now struggles to communicate, attempted to make a statement during the hearing but was incomprehensible. The defense has been granted time to present his message in written form. Ert’s ultimate wish is for justice to be served, and for Mantha to receive the necessary support for rehabilitation while hoping her story can serve as a beacon of hope for those battling adversity.
