Man acquitted in murder of Winnipeg teen given 10 years for violent Vancouver sex assault

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details; discretion is advised.

A man convicted and then acquitted in the murder of a Winnipeg teen nearly 42 years ago has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting and forcibly confining a woman in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside earlier this year.

Mark Edward Grant, who turns 63 on Friday, was originally charged with unlawful confinement, sexual assault with a weapon, assault with a weapon, and uttering threats but pleaded guilty last week to unlawful confinement and the lesser charge of sexual assault.

During a sentencing hearing in BC Supreme Court Monday, Crown prosecutor Victoria Young read an Agreed Statement of Facts detailing the horrific offences that unfolded over five hours on Jan. 8, 2026.

Court heard that Grant and the 61-year-old victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, were neighbours in the same single-room occupancy (SRO) building.

Grant lived in the unit directly above the woman and the two had met approximately one month prior, when he moved into the apartment complex.

According to the Agreed Statement of Facts, Grant and the victim voluntarily consumed drugs together on the evening of Jan. 7 in her apartment, and later in his unit.

After finishing the drugs, the court heard that the woman asked Grant if he had any more drugs, and he told her to ask her son, who lived in a nearby building, for money to purchase more drugs.

The victim agreed but instead left and returned to her apartment, where she got ready to go to bed.

A short time later, the accused knocked on her door and said he had obtained more drugs, and invited her to his apartment to consume them.

Around 12:15 a.m., the woman came back up to Grant’s apartment wearing a pajama top, grey shirt, pink bra, brown shorts and boxer underwear.

Court heard Grant directed her to the bathroom, indicating the drugs were in there.

As the victim crossed the bathroom threshold, the accused pushed her from behind and covered her mouth and nose with a glue trap or sticky paper used for pest control.

Grant then pulled out a knife and held it to the victim’s throat, saying words to the effect of “Cooperate and you’ll be fine. Just do what I say, shut up, don’t talk,” according to the Agreed Statement of Facts.