Moncton woman sent to prison after slitting former partner's throat
A Moncton woman was sentenced Monday to 4½ years in prison for slitting her former partner's throat last year.
Clare Elizabeth Gallagher, 57, was charged with the attempted murder of Rhonda Lynn Aubin as well as forcible confinement, assault and uttering death threats against Aubin on March 12, 2019.
Gallagher pleaded guilty to confinement and aggravated assault in October. She was sentenced Monday afternoon in Moncton.
Court of Queen's Bench Justice John Walsh said the crime happened in the context of a "toxic" relationship between Gallagher and Aubin.
"It was only by great luck, not good management, that Aubin was not killed," Walsh said, calling the neck wound "gruesome."
While Gallagher and Aubin had not been in a relationship since 2011, they continued to live together.
The judge called that March day an important one for Gallagher because she just got a job at a bank.
The two had started drinking during the day. Gallagher lay down for a while and Aubin cooked supper, according to an agreed statement of facts read in October.
When Gallagher got up, Aubin was in the living room. Gallagher came out of the kitchen with a knife and cut Aubin's throat.
The cut missed vital arteries. Aubin used her shirt to cover the wound and tried to escape, but Gallagher blocked her.
Aubin eventually got out of the apartment and went to the door of a neighbour, who called for help.
"The toxic nature of their earlier relationship surfaced and was the trigger for eruption of long pent-up hostility," Walsh said.
