Man guilty of throat slashing back in court Sept. 5
Article content
The sentencing of a 49-year-old man found guilty of attempted murder after breaking into a woman’s Tillsonburg home two years ago has been adjourned until Thursday.
The woman, whose name is protected under a court-ordered publication ban, had to be resuscitated after her throat was cut from ear to ear by the accused in October of 2011.
She also required 50 staples and was hospitalized for 12 days after Daniel Vienneau broke into her home and slit her throat just after 1 p.m on October 12, 2011.
The woman, whose emotional impact victim statement was one of several filed, told the court Tuesday afternoon that “every day is special to me.”
“If not for medical treatments, I would not be here…” she said.
She also suffers from nightmares, leg tremors and has an extensive scar that makes it difficult for her “to live a normal life.”
“Because of this horrific event we do not have a normal future,” she said. “The thought of someone wanting you dead is the most horrible thing you can imagine.”
Today, she said, her scars have become “a badge of courage.”
“I fought for my life and these scars prove it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vienneau, who testified he does not remember anything from the night of the assault and has no prior record or history of violence, said it was “hard to believe” that he committed the assault and that “then and now it is so surreal”.
“I’m not a person who acts like this and destroys people’s lives,” he said.
Speaking from the witness stand by special request rather than the prisoner box, Vienneau also apologized to his victim and her family.
“I wish you all peace and tranquility and apologize from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “I will be forever sorry for disrupting your lives.”
Vienneau, who slashed his own throat after his victims in a suicide attempt, also had to be revived in the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital.
He said “being dead for 20 minutes” resulted in a brain injury.
Assistant Crown attorney Steve Guiler has asked the court for 16 years minus the 23 months Vienneau already served for the crime, while defence attorney James Battin asked the court for six years.
He also asked for an enhanced credit of 1.5 days for every day Vienneau served prior to sentencing due to overcrowded and violent conditions at three different detention centres.
Superior Court Justice Lynne Leitch is expected to make a sentencing decision on September 5 at 9:30 a.m.