Calgary man who stabbed woman in front of terrified daughter gets 8-year sentence

A man who repeatedly stabbed a Calgary woman in her home while her terrified young daughter ran for help was given an eight-year sentence by a judge on Wednesday.

Nurdin Dossa, 68, pleaded guilty last November to aggravated assault in connection with his attack onAnila Malik, the ex-wife of a former business partner,at her northeast Calgary home in Coral Springson Nov. 17, 2016.

Malik suffered many wounds in the attack, particularly to her face andneck, but also to her arms and hands, which she used to try to defend herself against the knife blows. She was in intensive care for 11 days and underwentmultiple surgeries.

The daughter,who can't be identified due to a publication ban, was credited by police with saving her mother's life after sheran outside and alerted nearby workers, who then called 911.

When officers arrived at the home, Malik was still being attacked.

Crown Prosecutor Marta Juzwiakcalled the sentencefairand appropriate, given what the law makes available to the judge.

"Her life will never be the same again. She's now dependent on home care to help her with day-to-day activities. And she has to suffer with that for the rest of her life. And she won't ever look the same as she did before. And she will have daily reminders of what happened," Juzwiaksaid.

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With credit for time already served,Dossahas just under six years left on his sentence.

According to an earlier agreed statement of facts,DossaknewMalikfrom a previous business partnership with her ex-husband which soured and so she was initially surprised to see him at her home.

Juzwiak says Dossa never told his victim the motive for the attack, although he did apologize in court as he pleaded guilty to the assault.

However, provincial court Judge Bruce Fraser said Dossa's remorse seemed to be self-focused.

"It's hard to understand why this happened, and it's hard to know exactly what to do with Mr. Dossa, but I think we can all be comforted by the fact that he is going to be separated from society and heavily monitored," Juzwiak said.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Fraser said there wereseveral aggravating factors, including that the attack was premeditated and that ittookplace in the sanctity ofMalik'shome with her daughter present.

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