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Assessment ordered before Cornell's sentencing

Assessment ordered before Cornell's sentencing A Yukon Supreme Court judge has ordered that an assessment be completed on Christopher Cornell to determine if he should be labelled a long-term offender or dangerous offender.

A Yukon Supreme Court judge has ordered that an assessment be completed on Christopher Cornell to determine if he should be labelled a long-term offender or dangerous offender.

The 32-year-old Yukon man was convicted earlier this year of eight charges including the attempted murder of Haines Junction RCMP Cpl. Kim MacKellar and deputy conservation officer Shane Oakley.

The charges stem from a September 2011 high-speed chase. A bullet was fired out of the back of the vehicle being chased, injuring MacKellar.

The veteran officer and detachment commander in Haines Junction required surgery to remove metal fragments in his eye and shoulder.

A dangerous or long-term offender designation for Cornell would affect the sentence he eventually receives. The sentencing is currently scheduled for Jan. 23, but prosecutors say that may need to be pushed back if the psychological assessment is not completed in time.

A lawyer representing Cornell yesterday said the defence takes no position on the assessment being ordered.