Kingston, Ontario – A woman in Kingston, Ontario, recently faced her abuser in court as he was sentenced for a series of violent attacks and harassment. Sabrina L’Heureux endured two knife assaults from her ex-partner, Paul John MacDonald, over a span of a year and a half. The ordeal left her fearing for her life and the safety of her child while her attacker remained at large.
MacDonald, 47, was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison, with credit for time served, which equates to just over four and a half years behind bars. L’Heureux expressed frustration with the sentence, highlighting the need for better protection for survivors of intimate partner violence under Canadian criminal law.
The assaults, occurring in March 2020 and September 2021, transformed L’Heureux’s life from a once fearless spirit to a woman haunted by the trauma of the attacks. MacDonald faced nine charges related to the 2021 assault, including assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and uttering death threats. The court also heard about his harassment of L’Heureux through text messages between the attacks.
During the sentencing, the Crown emphasized the seriousness of the attacks, citing the use of a weapon and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. Assistant Crown attorney Greg Skerkowski advocated for an eight-year sentence, highlighting MacDonald’s lack of remorse and the gravity of the 2021 incident.
L’Heureux’s father also shared a victim impact statement, expressing the pain of almost losing his daughter to someone he trusted. Despite the trauma she endured, L’Heureux remains resilient, hoping that her story will empower other women in similar situations to find strength and move forward.
Throughout the court proceedings, the judge acknowledged the lasting impact of intimate partner violence on survivors and emphasized the need for ongoing support and understanding. L’Heureux and advocates like Erin Lee, who provides support for women fleeing violence, underscored the long-lasting effects of trauma and the challenges survivors face in seeking justice and healing.
Ultimately, L’Heureux’s courage in sharing her story serves as a reminder that survivors can rebuild their lives and refuse to be defined by their past experiences. As she continues on her journey towards healing, she stands as a beacon of hope for others navigating the difficult path of recovery from intimate partner violence.