Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Quebec Man Sofiane Ghazi Seeking To Withdraw Plea For Killing Unborn Child Seeks Legal Help

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Oct, 2019 06:52 PM

    MONTREAL - A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his unborn child will have a legal aid lawyer study his attempt to withdraw his plea.

     

    Sofiane Ghazi was back in court Tuesday and told the judge he'd been unable to hire a lawyer himself, so Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Francois Buffoni called on legal aid to act as a "friend of the court" to assist him.

     

    Ghazi, 39, suddenly pleaded guilty on Sept. 5 — the second day of his jury trial — to reduced charges of second-degree murder of the infant boy and aggravated assault against his wife in a July 24, 2017 attack.

     

    He had initially faced charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

     

    The woman survived the attack, but the child, delivered by emergency C-section at the hospital, had a heartbeat for several minutes before succumbing to his injuries.

     

    But when he returned for the sentencing phase less than two weeks later, Ghazi abruptly fired his attorneys and said he wanted to withdraw his guilty pleas.

     

    On Tuesday, a legal aid lawyer said she will study the file and let the court know what she'll do next when the case resumes on Oct. 24.

     

    In an agreed statement of facts, Ghazi admitted to stabbing his wife 19 times with a carving fork — 12 times on the left side of her stomach and seven times in the upper left thigh.

     

    Of those, nine wounds were inflicted on the child in the womb — known as Baby Ghazi in court documents — and observed after his birth.

     

    Second-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence, with a minimum of 10 years to be served before becoming eligible for parole.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Property In Surrey, B.C., Searched On Suspicion Of Cock Fighting

    SURREY, B.C. - The BC SPCA executed a warrant at a Surrey property it believes was connected to cock fighting on Saturday.    

    Property In Surrey, B.C., Searched On Suspicion Of Cock Fighting

    Scheer, Trudeau Trade Barbs Ahead Of Debate, Amid Ontario Education Unrest

    OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called his Liberal rival Justin Trudeau "disgusting" Monday morning for trying to score political points on the backs of Ontario students.

    Scheer, Trudeau Trade Barbs Ahead Of Debate, Amid Ontario Education Unrest

    'Safety Failures' Led To 'Deadpool 2' Stuntwoman Joi Harris's Death In Vancouver

    'Safety Failures' Led To 'Deadpool 2' Stuntwoman Joi Harris's Death In Vancouver
    Government agency WorkSafeBC said the film's makers should have ensured Joi Harris was wearing a helmet, reports bbc.com.  

    'Safety Failures' Led To 'Deadpool 2' Stuntwoman Joi Harris's Death In Vancouver

    Jury Finds Matthew Raymond, Accused In Fredericton Killings, Unfit To Stand Trial

    Jury Finds Matthew Raymond, Accused In Fredericton Killings, Unfit To Stand Trial
    FREDERICTON - A jury in Fredericton has found that Matthew Raymond is currently unfit to stand trial on four counts of first-degree murder.

    Jury Finds Matthew Raymond, Accused In Fredericton Killings, Unfit To Stand Trial

    Scientist Finds Fossil Evidence Of Sabre-toothed Cat In Southern Alberta

    Scientists have found fossil evidence from the last ice age of a sabre-toothed cat in southern Alberta — the northern-most record of the predator.    

    Scientist Finds Fossil Evidence Of Sabre-toothed Cat In Southern Alberta

    Apparent Suspicious Death In B.C. Now Thought To Be Linked To Animal: RCMP

    Apparent Suspicious Death In B.C. Now Thought To Be Linked To Animal: RCMP
    100 MILE HOUSE, B.C. - RCMP say an animal may be linked to the death of a man in central British Columbia.    

    Apparent Suspicious Death In B.C. Now Thought To Be Linked To Animal: RCMP