A 39-year-old man has just been convicted of seriously injuring a stranger with an ax after a simple conflict involving a dog that degenerated in September 2021, in Montreal.
The accused in this case, Mahamadou Doumbia, first crossed on September 15, 2021 on the sidewalk Stéphane Morien, who was walking in the opposite direction with his pet.
“[Le] complainant’s dog blocked his way. A short verbal altercation takes place between the two men because of the dog”, we report in the decision rendered by Flavia K. Longo, judge at the Court of Quebec, this week.
Two days later, the two men met again. After exchanging “derogatory words”, Mahamadou Doumbia kicked the victim’s animal, which had approached him.
The gesture led to a fight during which the two men fell between vehicles.
Blinded by anger
At his home, after the altercation, Stéphane Morien became aware of the extent of the injuries suffered by the beast.
“He loses his mind and goes to the house of the accused with an ax in order to take revenge. Knowing that the accused is a roomer in a building, the plaintiff inquires with the concierge to know the exact location of his apartment, then he goes to his home, ”says the judgment of the magistrate.
Once in front of the door of Doumbia, Stéphane Morien however decided to leave by the emergency door.
In the seconds that followed, Mahamadou Doumbia came out of his accommodation with a hammer in his hands and was surprised by the presence of the victim, triggering a new violent confrontation.
Stéphane Morien, who was trying to close the emergency door, fell to the ground after suffering hammer blows. It was at this moment that the accused took the opportunity to seize the victim’s ax.
Thus, Doumbia “gives hammer and ax blows to the plaintiff who is still trying to close the door by putting pressure on it with his legs”, it is reported.
painful wounds
After the intervention of the authorities, Stéphane Morien spent ten days in the hospital to treat serious injuries.
In addition to being hit in the chest, leg and left arm, he suffered a fractured skull.
During his testimony at trial, the victim reported that he had scars on his head, had a deformed skull and suffered from memory loss.
The Tribunal sought in its analysis to determine whether Doumbia could have acted in self-defence.
“The defendant did not act reasonably in the circumstances from the moment he reopened the emergency door and hacked the plaintiff with an ax.”
Mahamadou Doumbia, who was convicted of assault causing bodily harm, is expected to be sentenced this summer.