Four years after surviving a vicious attack by Richard Mantha and fleeing to safety, Aimee Ert has decided to publicly share her story with her real name for the first time. During Mantha’s sentencing hearing, a publication ban safeguarding Ert’s identity was lifted, revealing her true identity after previously being referred to as Avery by CBC News.
Ert expressed her desire to use her name to raise awareness and advocate for others after fighting for her life against Mantha’s assault, which involved being drugged, choked, and sexually assaulted on his property near Calgary. She managed to escape from his trailer located within a Quonset hut and ran through fields to safety.
Recalling the harrowing experience, Ert stated, “I don’t know if it was a sign, intuition, or a sudden rush of strength that drove me, but at that moment, I knew I wanted to survive.”
Richard Mantha, aged 62, was convicted of multiple offenses in April, including sexually assaulting three women, administering drugs to one victim, suffocating and assaulting another with a weapon, and making threats against a fourth woman. Originally facing 20 charges involving seven women, mostly vulnerable sex workers with addiction issues.
During the sentencing hearing, Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin recommended a prison term of 10 to 13 years for Mantha’s crimes, while defense lawyer Justin Dean argued for a shorter sentence of five to seven years. The prosecutor emphasized the impact of the offenses on the victims’ sense of security and self-worth, while the defense highlighted Mantha’s deteriorating health.
The final decision on Mantha’s sentence is set to be delivered by Justice Judith Shriar on September 17. In the courtroom, Ert addressed Mantha directly, reading aloud two victim impact statements she had written at different stages of her recovery.
Ert expressed forgiveness towards Mantha for her own healing but emphasized that she would never forget the trauma he inflicted on her. She emphasized her journey towards being a survivor rather than a victim, despite the challenges she faced in the aftermath of the attack, including struggles with work and relationships.
Noting Mantha’s current health condition after suffering a stroke, Ert remarked, “He’s not even a third of the man he was when he attacked me.” She expressed a hope that justice would be served and that Mantha would receive the necessary assistance during his imprisonment.
Throughout her recovery from addiction and trauma, Ert aims to serve as an inspiration for others facing similar struggles. Mantha attempted to provide a statement during the hearing but was largely incomprehensible, prompting the justice to allow the defense time to present his statement in writing.
