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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.