Winnipeg man faces sentencing after shooting girlfriend in the face

During a sentencing hearing in Winnipeg, a court heard a victim impact statement from a 26-year-old woman who was shot in the face by her boyfriend, Machuor Akau, last November.

Akau, 28, pleaded guilty to several charges, including aggravated assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, pointing a firearm, and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. The incident occurred at an apartment on Wellington Crescent after Akau, who had been consuming alcohol and cocaine, became paranoid and accused the victim of infidelity.

The shooting resulted in severe injuries, including a shattered jaw. In her statement, the victim described living with permanent physical scars and profound psychological trauma, stating she is “crippled by anxiety and fear” and feels like a “shell of who I once was.”

Crown attorney Ari Millo characterized the shooting as a deliberate attempt to “intimidate, to dominate and control an intimate partner” rather than an act of negligence. Prosecutors have recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Akau.