Man accused of mass stabbing in North Vancouver, B.C., pleads guilty to all charges
Yannick Bandaogo, the man accused of a March 2021 stabbing spree in North Vancouver that killed one and injured six, has pleaded guilty to all the charges he faced.
Bandaogo was charged with one count of second-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated assault.
"Oui, Mssr. judge," he said Monday as the judge asked, in French, if he pleaded guilty to each offence.
Bandaogo waived his right to a trial and admitted culpability for all of the charges. He also agreed to a statement of facts read aloud by Crown prosecutors.
"I would expect that it's a tremendous relief for a lot of the people involved, the victims and the community to have this result rather than go through what would feel like tremendous uncertainty and anxiety," said Crown prosecutor Daniel Loucks.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 5 through 7. At it, Crown and defence lawyers will make a joint submission for a recommended sentence. Victim impact statements will also be read aloud.
Second-degree murder convictions carry an automatic life sentence, but the question of when parole eligibility will begin remains to be determined. The judge could order Bandaogo eligible for parole after as little as 10 years served, or as long as 25 years.
Once an offender becomes eligible for parole, it's still up to the Parole Board of Canada to decide whether to grant it, and under what conditions.
The stabbing spree happened "within and outside" Lynn Valley Library in North Vancouver on March 27, 2021, and sent shockwaves through the community and across the nation.
Witnesses to the incident described the scene as "chaos," and said the assailant appeared to be attacking people at random.
Video of the arrest appeared to show the perpetrator stabbing himself and collapsing before police converged on him. Investigators later confirmed that he had suffered "self-inflicted wounds" and undergone surgery.
A woman in her 20s succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Six others were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In the hours and days that followed the violence, condolences poured in from across B.C. and across Canada.
At the library, a large memorial grew with candles, flowers, cards and signs reading "Lynn Valley Strong." Dozens stopped by each day to pay their respects.
So far, no motive for the attack has been discussed publicly.
"At this point, it's not something we can get into. There will be a sentencing phase – and a lot of details will be provided at that time," said Georges Rivard, one of Bandaogo's lawyers.
Bandaogo was charged with second-degree murder the day after the carnage. The other charges were laid several months later, in September 2021.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Regan Hasegawa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.