Mom stabbed at Canadian prison Christmas party

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By Vancouver Sun

Published: 12/22/2003

The Chilliwack mother-of-three who was stabbed at Kent Institution in British Columbia last Saturday was trying to reunite her children with their step-dad for the holidays when he attacked her in front of them.
After sharing a Christmas meal at a family event, the elementary school-aged children looked on as their step-dad, a high-risk inmate, went at their mother with a crude knife, sending her to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The children are in the care of family as their 30-year-old mother recovers from multiple stab wounds after emergency surgery. She was in stable, but serious condition yesterday.
"It was very traumatic," said acting deputy warden Brenda Lamm.
"I've got 20 years of experience working with Correctional Service of Canada, and I've never heard of an incident like this . . . during a Christmas social event."
Lamm said the inmate, recently transferred to Kent's protected-custody Unit Two from a medium-security facility, hid the weapon during a search before the party.
At about 6:35 p.m. Saturday, the family had finished eating and exchanging presents with the 30 other visitors, and were outside in the sports field.
Tower and patrol guards spotted the couple struggling and subdued the prisoner. His wife was taken to Chilliwack General Hospital.
Chilliwack RCMP were called and the inmate was transferred to another B.C. prison. Corrections staff placed the facility, which houses 270 inmates, on lockdown, but there were no further incidents.
Meanwhile, inmates and staff have taken up a collection to buy gifts for the children.
The Correctional Service of Canada will strike a board of investigators to examine the incident and report to a commissioner, said regional communications manager Dennis Finlay.

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