A man in Cobalt, northern Ontario, has admitted to attempting to murder his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend with a sword two years ago. Phillipe Rivard Gagnon, 20, made the plea at the Haileybury courthouse recently. The incident occurred on November 3, 2024, as Kaylie Smith was returning home from work and was struck by an SUV driven by Gagnon upon exiting a transit bus in Cobalt. Subsequently, Gagnon attacked her with a sword, resulting in severe injuries to her hands. Smith’s family shared in interviews that one hand was severed, and the other was severely injured.
Following the assault, Gagnon, who was 18 at the time, was apprehended and charged with attempted murder and possession of a dangerous weapon. He has been in custody since the incident, being transferred from North Bay jail to attend court proceedings in Haileybury over the last two years. During his recent court appearance, Gagnon pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge, while the weapon possession charge remains pending and will be addressed by the courts in the near future.
A sentencing date is yet to be arranged, with the case set to return to Haileybury court on September 16. Meanwhile, Kaylie Smith, the resilient victim of the attack, continues to receive support. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing intimate partner violence, seek help from crisis lines and local support services.