Kingston, Ontario – A Kingston man was recently found guilty on nine charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, and uttering death threats. Paul John MacDonald faced the verdict at Kingston’s Ontario Court of Justice on March 20, 2024, following incidents involving his former partner, Sabrina L’Heureux.
The majority of the charges against MacDonald stem from a violent altercation on September 4, 2021, with L’Heureux. Testimony revealed that MacDonald repeatedly struck L’Heureux, leaving her with cuts to her arm and calf. L’Heureux, who had feared for her safety for a year leading up to his arrest in 2022, managed to escape after using pepper spray on MacDonald.
In addition to assault charges, MacDonald was convicted of possessing a knife for a dangerous purpose, stealing L’Heureux’s cellphone, threatening to use a weapon during an assault, and uttering death threats. Furthermore, he was found guilty of harassing L’Heureux in the period between the two main incidents, causing her continued fear for her safety.
During the trial, evidence of harassment included threatening text messages, some of which contained graphic threats of violence. Despite MacDonald’s claims that a lottery win in 2020 may have led to clashes with L’Heureux, the judge found his version of events unconvincing, stating that MacDonald’s actions “stretches credulity.”
Justice Larry O’Brien deemed MacDonald’s statement about the knife falling from his pocket into L’Heureux’s hand as “fanciful,” asserting that the Crown had successfully disproved MacDonald’s claim of self-defense. A sentencing date is yet to be finalized, with lawyers scheduled to convene on March 27 to determine the next steps in the legal process.
The verdict serves as a critical development in the case, shedding light on the severity of the charges faced by MacDonald and providing closure for L’Heureux after a prolonged period of fear and uncertainty. The decision highlights the importance of holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable for their actions, ensuring justice for victims of abuse and assault.