Man behind livestreamed hate-filled HSR rant apologizes in court

The man who livestreamed a transphobic, hate-filled rant on a Hamilton bus offered an apology to victims as he made another court appearance for sentencing on Tuesday.

Christopher Pretula pleaded guilty to charges of assault and failure to comply with conditions of his release in connection with the incident back in the fall.

When offered an opportunity to speak by the judge, Pretula told the courtroom that the video he made is disgusting, deplorable and called the behaviour beneath him.

“It is a disgusting video, it’s not how I act. It’s a fluke incident. I feel bad for the victims, I’m sure it’s affected their lives in many ways…there’s nothing I can say. I apologize.” he professed to the court.

The live streamed video of him harassing a family on an HSR bus was widely condemned and shared with police who investigated it as a hate crime.

WATCH MORE: Trial of man in video of transphobic, racist HSR rant continues

Last October he pled guilty to assault for kicking one of the victims. The video capturing that moment was shared in court on Tuesday for the judge sentencing him could see the incident herself.

Defence and crown lawyers made sentencing submissions at this latest appearance, with the defence seeking time served while the crown arguing for between four and six months in jail.

Crown attorney Megan Nieuwoudt is asking for a jail term of four to six months for the assault and 45 days for breaching the conditions of his release last year, along with an additional two years probation.

She told the court it’s a steep sentence, but because it was a hate crime live streamed to reach a broader audience, a message must be sent to deter him or others from doing something similar.

The crown played the video shot by Pretula in January of last year that showed him breaking the conditions of his initial release from jail by recording someone without their permission in Toronto.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton police arrest man, 41, following disturbing transphobic, homophobic rant on HSR bus

He was later arrested by police in Hamilton for breaching his bail.

Nieuwoudt argues that a jail term is necessary. Referencing two videos shared by Pretula online last year, one of which was titled “Being on house arrest is hard”, she says his own actions show he doesn’t take house arrest seriously.

Pretula’s Defence lawyer Stephen De Witter said he agreed with the crown that the rant is shocking, disturbing and offensive, but says he has already served the equivalent of a three-month jail sentence.

De Witter said it’s a significant amount of time to have already been in jail given the assault did not result in any physical injuries and that he doesn’t agree that the incident rose to the level of a hate crime.

The case will return to court on April 4 when the judge says she will deliver her sentence.