Calgary Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault in Brutal 2019 Attack
A Calgary man has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault for a violent attack nearly seven years ago that left a woman unconscious and beaten beyond recognition. Justice Allan Fradsham delivered the guilty verdict on Tuesday, rejecting the defendant's claim that he had engaged in consensual sex with the victim before someone else assaulted her.
Details of the Case and Court Proceedings
The incident occurred on July 14, 2019, in the southeast community of Forest Lawn. Kepra Udup Bang, now 26 years old, was found guilty in connection with the attack on the woman, identified in court documents as M.M. The victim was hospitalized for more than a week following the assault, suffering severe injuries that rendered her unconscious.
During the trial, Udup Bang testified that he had met M.M. at a child's birthday party several weeks prior to the incident. He claimed that on the day of the attack, she contacted him, and they met at a residence in the area where they engaged in consensual sexual activity in her bedroom. However, Justice Fradsham dismissed this account, citing compelling DNA evidence that directly linked Udup Bang to the crime scene.
DNA Evidence and Eyewitness Testimony
The prosecution presented forensic evidence showing that Udup Bang's bodily fluids were found on the victim's private parts and on a wrist band discovered next to her unconscious body. Justice Fradsham emphasized that the DNA on the wrist band was exclusively male and matched the accused, providing a crucial link to the assault.
An eyewitness account further supported the prosecution's case. A woman who was awakened by screaming reported seeing a man across the street holding the victim from behind with his pants down, just minutes before police arrived. Officers found M.M. unconscious and naked from the waist down at the location.
Justice Fradsham stated that the combination of the victim's state of undress and the man's lowered pants satisfied him that the assault was sexual in nature. He also noted that even if consent had been given at some point, the brutal nature of the attack negated it entirely.
Legal Arguments and Sentencing
Defence lawyers Gunntas Sidhu and David Nguyen argued that it was possible Udup Bang and M.M. had consensual sex before she was assaulted by other individuals. However, the judge found this explanation inconsistent with the evidence, stating, "I do not believe that he and M.M. engaged in consensual sexual intercourse."
Udup Bang was not charged until late 2024, when DNA analysis of swabs taken from the victim at the time of the attack identified him as a match. He remains in custody pending sentencing, with a presentence report ordered by Justice Fradsham at Sidhu's request. A date for the sentencing hearing will be set next week.
This conviction underscores the importance of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases and highlights the judicial system's role in addressing violent crimes within the community.
