The man who was stabbed to death for a dog fight last Friday in Montreal simply wanted to defend his girlfriend against her violent and manipulative ex-spouse, according to the latter.
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“It is ironical. Him [la victime] and me, it started because he wanted to protect me from my ex, ”launches Sarah Piché-Senécal, kneeling in front of the memorial made in honor of Rance Sullivan.
The 34-year-old woman agreed to confide in the Log about her 27-year-old boyfriend who lost his life, to denounce the perverse effects of domestic violence.
Photo taken from Facebook
The 27-year-old man was stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s ex-spouse last Friday in Montreal.
She can’t help but burst into tears as area residents stop by to offer their support and sympathy at the scene of the murder that took place last Friday.
That morning, around 5 a.m., the couple were about to go for a walk with Molly, a 5-year-old black Labrador retriever, when the lady’s ex-husband, Theodore Gliga, allegedly appeared at the door of their apartment in the Mile-End to seize the animal.
On conditional release, Gliga was however under house arrest, and only had the right to be away from home for emergencies or for work.
“It was really unexpected. We haven’t been together for over a year. I tried to stay friends, to help him. Stockholm syndrome is vicious,” says Mme Piche-Senecal.
She even says that she recently had to change her personal number, so Gliga would have been “harassing”.
“I should have left earlier. I regret it so much, ”she continues.
Archival photo
The Montreal police combed through the scene, on rue Jeanne-Mance, in the Mile-End district.
Struck in the ribs
Insisting that her dog not be used to manipulate her, the woman did not object to her ex taking her away.
Witnesses to the scene, Rance Sullivan and his friend Justin Hunt, 29, came to his defense, going to pick up Molly.
This is where the altercation escalated.
The suspect then allegedly attacked the young man, who was hit in the ribs.
“Rance was walking towards me,” Hunt said. He was proud that we resolved the situation [du chien], then it collapsed. We stayed with him until his last breath.
His death was pronounced on the spot, near the sidewalk of rue Jeanne-Mance, a few steps from rue Bernard.
jealous ex
The suspect was arrested a few hours after the tragedy took place, near one of his friends. He would not have resisted his arrest.
“I should have known. Theodore was angry that I was with Rance. We were in a very toxic relationship. He was manipulative and controlling, says Mme Piche-Senecal. But I can’t blame myself.”
The latter says she is convinced that her ex would have acted in this way in front of anyone who wanted to come between them.
“I can’t say it was planned [l’attaque]but the way he stabbed him, [le suspect] knew what he was doing. Rance was an obstacle between him and me, ”believes the one who held her bloodied lover in her arms.
Traumatized, M.me Piché-Senécal, however, does not hesitate to speak up to help other victims of abusive relationships.
“If a person sees domestic violence, they have to break the isolation, in order to bring the victim back to reality,” she continues, while flattering Molly.
Better future
After having spent difficult times in their lives, each on their own, the two new lovers finally saw hope, “together”.
“I was getting better. Rance was helping me, and I knew he loved me a lot,” says Ms.me Piché-Senécal, about his boyfriend, whom his relatives described as a “unifier”.
“For him, nothing was serious. He didn’t hold a grudge against anyone, adds his friend Tina Scalia, 23, who organized a crowdfunding campaign for the funeral. It doesn’t feel real yet.”
– With Antoine Lacroix
Theodore Gliga, 28, has so far been accused of having been released without just cause. His case is due back in court today.
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