A man in Cobalt, northern Ontario, acknowledged his guilt in the attempted murder of his 16-year-old former girlfriend using a sword two years ago. Phillipe Rivard Gagnon, 20, made this admission at the Haileybury courthouse this week. The incident occurred on Nov. 3, 2024, when Kaylie Smith, after work, was disembarking a bus in Cobalt and was struck by an SUV driven by Gagnon, who then proceeded to assault her with a sword. Reports from Smith’s family revealed that one of her hands was severed, and the other severely injured.
Gagnon, who was 18 at the time of the assault, was apprehended and charged with attempted murder and possession of a dangerous weapon. He has been detained since the incident and has been transferred from the North Bay jail to attend court sessions in Haileybury over the past 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 court in the upcoming months. The sentencing date is yet to be determined, with the next court hearing scheduled for Sept. 16 in Haileybury.
Kaylie Smith, the victim, has been described by her family as ‘strong’ and ‘resilient’. If you are facing immediate danger or are concerned about safety, please call 911. For those impacted by family or intimate partner violence, seek help through crisis lines and local support services.