A Waukegan man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for stabbing and brutally beating a woman in Waukegan — leaving her in a coma — after she turned down his romantic advances.
Varghese Philip, 54, of Waukegan, was found guilty in October of two counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery.
The attack occurred on June 21, 2018, in the parking lot of an apartment complex near Sunset Road and Golf Road in Waukegan.
The female victim lived at the apartment complex at the time.
Prosecutors said the woman had declined a request to see Philip, who was married. Philip became increasingly agitated and sought her out, prosecutors said.
According to Assistant State’s Attorneys Scott Hoffert and Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg, as well as trial testimony, Philip approached the woman in the parking lot and stabbed her in the head with a knife.
The woman fell to the ground and Philip then kicked and stomped the victim’s head as she lost consciousness.
The attack left the Waukegan woman in a temporary coma with a traumatic brain injury that required months of rehabilitation and still affects her life today, prosecutors said.
Philip was identified by witnesses and arrested by police.
Lake County Judge George Strickland revoked bond for Philip after the verdict was read in October.
On Tuesday, Strickland sentenced Philip to 16 years in prison for the incident, calling it a “cold-blooded attack,” the Chicago Tribune reported.
During the sentencing hearing, Philip pleaded with the judge, “Please, please, sir,” before Strickland ordered him to be silent, the Tribune reported.
Hoffert read a victim impact statement before Philip was sentenced.
The victim still suffers headaches and numbness from the brain injuries she suffered in the attack, according to the statement.
The woman, who is part of a community of immigrants from India, is unable to work and other emigres have avoided her.
Philip said during the trial that the victim started the altercation. He said that he does not remember attacking the woman, the Tribune reported.
Philip had no prior criminal record and suffered domestic abuse from his father, Strickland said.
Philip, who faced a sentencing range of six to 30 years, will serve his sentence at 85% based on truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the guilty verdict in October that his entire office stands with the “courageous survivor.”