Hugh Mason, 34, is becoming a familiar face in B.C.’s Surrey Provincial Court, even though he typically appears by video phone from a pre-trial detention facility.
Thursday marked Hugh Mason’s 37th court appearance in only three years, after being accused of violently beating a woman in a June 1 stranger attack in downtown Langley.
The entire ordeal was captured on video by a nearby CCTV camera.
In the video, a man can be seen shoving a woman into the street, then repeatedly kicking and punching her before she escapes.
The attack occurred in the 20100 block of Fraser Highway around 6:17 a.m. on Sunday.
Soon after the attack, Langley RCMP arrested Mason, who has since been charged with assault and assault causing bodily harm.
Court records uncovered by True North show that Mason has made dozens of appearances in the Surrey Provincial Court over the last three years for charges related to assault and breaching release orders.
“The recent vicious beating of a stranger in Langley is the latest in a long list of violent attacks by repeat offenders out on bail,” said the Public Safety Shadow Minister Elenore Sturko, who took to X on Thursday.
“Enough is enough. The premier and the attorney general need to go to Ottawa and insist that changes are made to bail conditions and to the Criminal Code of Canada to keep these violent offenders locked up,” Sturko continued.
The RCMP echoed those sentiments when they spoke to the media about the attack.
“We recognize that this violent incident was not only traumatic for the victim, but is also deeply concerning to the community as a whole,” said Sergeant Zynal Sharoom of the Langley RCMP.