We’re right here to ‘present Kaylie that she is beloved and supported and that she has individuals right here which might be prepared to get justice for her’
Editor’s Word: This story initially appeared in Oakville Information’ sister web site BayToday.com
HAILEYBURY, Ont. — When approached from the south, the trek to the Haileybury Courthouse follows an extended and winding street. Snow sparsely covers the bottom as Freeway 11B travels by means of Coleman, Cobalt, and North Cobalt and all over the place one appears, winter is on the cusp of arrival.
Whereas the locals in these fiercely northern Ontario cities would typically be sharing their ideas and prognostications on the upcoming winter climate presently of 12 months, this autumn has introduced a distinct, rather more troublesome subject of dialog — a heinous act of violence in Cobalt the OPP is investigating as intimate accomplice violence (IPV) — that left certainly one of their very own preventing for her life.
Everybody is aware of everybody right here. “Southerners” stick out like sore thumbs in these components. Each particular person encountered, whether or not within the fuel station or on the road close to the place a vigil was held for the sufferer on Sunday, figures you might be on the town for the court docket date and “Kaylie Smith” are the primary phrases out of their mouths. Over one week since the assault, they are saying it stays the central dialog in these cities and past.
Kaylie Smith is in steady situation at CHEO in Ottawa the place she is being supported by her household, who’ve requested for privateness as they navigate the early a part of the 16-year-old lady’s restoration — an extended and winding street, certainly.
Learn extra right here: Suspect in Cobalt assault stays in jail
In the meantime, Philippe Gagnon, 18, faces his personal arduous street as his case makes its approach by means of the preliminary phases of the judicial system. A publication ban is now in place. The Smith household and buddies have recognized Gagnon as a former boyfriend of Smith’s. His case was remanded for 2 weeks so Gagnon will stay behind bars.
A wholesome, rotating group of supporters carried indicators and chanted outdoors the Haileybury Courthouse on Tuesday morning in sub-zero temperatures. All who attended expressed shock on the violent assault and vowed to maintain returning to protest to maintain the accused in jail.
“Home violence is not any joke,” acknowledged Kailey Kennedy as she took a break from shouting and waving her signal that learn, “Justice for Kaylie! No bail! “As somebody who’s been there and has seen firsthand how scary individuals can get. It is no joke. It actually is not.
“To see this little lady develop up — and she or he is such a sweetheart. She is such a sweetheart. To all their buddies, I used to be the massive sister and so to see this little lady undergo one thing so horrific at such a younger age is ridiculous and it mustn’t have occurred. My coronary heart breaks for her.”
Carol Kennedy mentioned she spoke to Kaylie Smith over the cellphone whereas she was on the vigil in Cobalt on Sunday.
“I simply wish to say that I did get to talk to her for a few minutes over the cellphone and I used to be so impressed. She is such a powerful child, man she’s robust.”
A 3rd Kennedy — Grace — spoke eloquently on behalf of the group within the video above.
Kaylie Smith’s good friend Kessie Pellerin was one of many first to indicate up for the protest and was outspoken about the necessity to preserve the perpetrators of IPV locked up.
“We want justice to be served for what occurred to her. Nobody deserves what occurred to her, particularly for all of the ugly stuff. He must be locked up and she or he must have reassurance that she doesn’t have to fret about that occuring ever once more.”
Pellerin mentioned she has been in contact along with her pricey good friend.
“She’s OK. She is totally traumatized. She had blunt-force trauma to her head and 16 hours of mind surgical procedure alone. She had round 12 hours of cosmetic surgery on her fingers. She cannot get the sensation out of her thoughts.”
On Sunday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m., Temiskaming OPP was referred to as to the scene of the assault, the place police say a automobile had struck the lady on the intersection of Higher Helen Road and Prospect Avenue, close to Freeway 11B after getting off a bus and beginning her stroll dwelling following a shift at work.
Learn extra right here: Tried homicide cost laid in Cobalt after automobile hits 16-year-old pedestrian
“The investigation revealed that an 18-year-old male driving a sport utility automobile struck a 16-year-old feminine strolling alongside Helen Road. The male then exited the automobile and attacked the sufferer with a sword,” based on an OPP launch.
The lady suffered life-threatening accidents and was rushed to an area hospital earlier than being airlifted by Ornge to Ottawa.
“The fast response from native residents and witnesses to the incident stopped additional assaults on the sufferer,” say police.
Moreover the intense head accidents, the household of the sufferer mentioned her left hand was severed fully from her physique and her proper hand was very severely lower up by an edged weapon that police have recognized as a sword.
An 18-year-old male, Phillipe Rivard Gagnon from Haileybury, was turned in by his mom and is charged in connection to the assault with:
Try to commit homicide
Aggravated assault
Possession of a weapon for a harmful objective
Breach of conditional sentence order
A household spokesperson confirmed the sufferer is a former girlfriend of the suspect.
The Temiskaming OPP Crime Unit is continuous the investigation underneath the path of the OPP Prison Investigation Department.
Member of the family Paige Smith, Kaylie’s cousin, began a GoFundMe web page for the sufferer and over $97,000 has already been raised by 1,300 donors towards the $100,000 aim.
“First off we’d prefer to thank first responders, medical doctors, nurses, the witnesses and everybody concerned in getting Kaylie the care she wanted so shortly because it positively made a huge effect on her survival. We might additionally prefer to thank the neighborhood, the donors, the networks, and the huge quantity of individuals reaching out to assist and assist Kaylie and the household within the wake of such a heinous and horrific assault.
“We wish to let individuals know that Kaylie continues to be steady, the medical doctors, nurses, employees, and household are in full awe of her energy, resilience, and dedication. She stays in ICU and on the time we request no guests as it is not allowed whereas she is in such a susceptible state. As for restoration, no person is aware of how that is going to go, it is a lot too early, it is a journey that may take months if not a lifetime for Kaylie to heal and overcome.”
If you would like to ship the household an encouraging observe it has an e mail account the place you can ship messages of hope, the e-mail tackle is [email protected].
— With information from Jeff Turl
