Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing.
A man originally charged with breaking and entering and attempted murder for a New Year’s Eve stabbing of his estranged partner appeared in Supreme Court Monday to enter a guilty plea to the lesser charge of aggravated assault.
Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo
The offender admitted that he broke a window and entered the house of his former partner in her Williams Avenue residence on Dec. 31, 2018. The man armed himself with a steak knife and went to the second floor of the house, where the pregnant victim was watching fireworks with her children.
The woman was holding her youngest child when the assault started on New Year’s Eve and handed the toddler to another family member as the stabbing continued.
The offender stabbed the woman several times in the face, left shoulder, left chest and stomach. Throughout the assault, the assailant repeatedly said to the victim, “You don’t love me.”
The stabbing stopped only when the knife broke. The blade remained lodged in the woman’s stomach.
When she tried to escape, the man dragged her back into the house and kicked her in the head. He fled the scene shortly afterwards and was arrested several hours later.
The woman was brought to the hospital and later told NNSL Media that her life was saved as a result of RCMP’s quick action. She gave birth to the baby after the traumatic assault.
The court heard that the assailant and the victim had an “on-again, off-again relationship” that was “characterized by domestic violence.” The offender had been charged with assaulting his estranged partner on three separate occasions before the New Year’s Eve stabbing. They now have two children together. At the time of the 2018 stabbing, their first child was 18 months, and the victim was pregnant with their second. She also has children from a previous relationship.
Crown prosecutor Blair McPherson accepted the offender’s guilty plea. Therefore, the trial for attempted murder will be cancelled.
The guilty party is set to be sentenced in the Supreme Court of the NWT on Feb. 11, 2021.
Hi Natalie,
I lived in Yellowknife for 38 yrs. I now live in Calgary…
Please,Please, Warn all travellers heading to Mexico looking for holiday rentals that there are scams on Kijji. The renteroffers you a cheap/ beautiful condo. Asking 70% of money for deposit. Mexical Law not required and illegal to ask for more then 1 month deposit upon approval on property. It’s the holidays and with Covid we all need a break but this Break will hurt anyone. Please address this winter travel in a news heading of your paper if you can. This is a must coming from an ex yellowknifer. We forget how trusting, loving us northers are and we are too honest for most opening us up to get burned. The new posting is on Kijji. Bucerias Mexico rental with Marcus Sanford (Marcus wood903) @gmail coming out of North Carolina….this is a scam that will show up in Yellowknife. Thank you so much. Looking after my Yellowknifer family
Hmmm…. attempted murdered to aggravated assault for stabbing his pregnant ex-partner while her children watched!!! Sounds like the Crown Attorney took that one seriously? For those including the Crown who might think this is okay I am being sarcastic!! This is disgusting and through your inaction you are complicit in the ongoing murder of women by their partners!!!!! Next thing is the sentencing. I predict time served or weekends in jail because this guy has to financially support his family and he is probably a real good dad too!!!!